6 


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rch  Publications  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 
No.  2  May,  1919 


arrent  Problems 
Number  11 


A  REVIEW  OF  THE 
ORNITHOLOGY  OF  MINNESOTA 


BY 


THOMAS  SADLER  ROBERTS,  M.D. 

Professor  of  Ornithology  and  Curator  of  the  Zoological  Museum 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota 


Price:  25  Cents 


MINNEAPOLIS,  MINNESOTA 


Research  Publications  of  the  University  of  Minnesota 
Vol.  VIII  No.  2      May,  1919 


Current  Problems 
Number  11 


A  REVIEW  OF  THE 
ORNITHOLOGY  OF  MINNESOTA 


BY 


THOMAS  SADLER  ROBERTS,  M.D. 

Professor  of  Ornithology  and  Curator  of  the  Zoological  Museum 
in  the  University  of  Minnesota 


MINNEAPOLIS,  MINNESOTA 


m 


COPYRIGHT  1919 

BY  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF  MINNESOTA 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Bird-life  map  of  Minnesota Frontispiece 

List  of  illustrations iv—v 

Introduction 1-4 

A  synopsis  of  the  bird  life  of  Minnesota 5-10 

Key  to  abbreviations  used  in  lists ".        11 

A  check-list  of  birds  known  to  occur  regularly  in  Minnesota  12— 21 

A  list  of  birds  that  are  rare  or  accidental  in  Minnesota 22-26 

Introduced  species 27 

Unsettled  species 28 

Extirpated  species 29 

Vanishing  species 30-33 

Hypothetical  list 34-35 

Minnesota  bird  laws 36—37 

The  Federal  Migratory  Bird  Law  and  the   Migratory  Bird 

Treaty  Act 38-39 

Wild-life  refuges  in  Minnesota 40-42 

A  list  of  Minnesota  game  and  wild-life  refuges,  with  approxi- 
mate area  of  each,  complete  to  January  1,  1919 43 

Map  of   Minnesota  showing  location  of  game  and  wild-life 

refuges 44 

Outlawed  and  questionable  birds 45-47 

An  abridged  bibliography  of  Minnesota  ornithology 48-58 

Index  to  bibliography  by  dates  and  authors'  names 59 

Index..  ..91-100 


M366953 


LIST    OF    ILLUSTRATIONS 

9 

Unless  otherwise  stated  the  illustrations  are  from  photographs 
from  nature  by  the  author.  The  photographs  of  Museum  groups 
are  from  exhibits  in  the  Museum  of  the  Zoological  Division  of  the 
Geological  and  Natural  History  Survey  'of  Minnesota  located  in 
the  Animal  Biology  Building,  University  of  Minnesota,  Minneapolis. 
The  groups  were  constructed  by  Mr.  Jenness  Richardson,  Museum 
taxidermist.  The  Museum  is  open  to  the  general  public. 

Young  Rose-breasted  Grosbeaks 4 

Young  Cooper's  Hawks 10 

Young  Scarlet  Tanagers 11 

Young  White-throated  Sparrows 26 

Franklin's  Gull  Chicks.     Photograph  by  Jenness  Richardson..  27 

Young  Migrant  Shrikes 28 

Young  Baltimore  Oriole 29 

Great  Horned  Owl.     Photograph  of  mounted  bird 33 

Young  Tree  Swallows  and  nesting  hole 37 

Young  Bluebirds 39 

Horned  Lark.     Drawing  by  Kako  Morito 42 

Young  Yellow-headed  Blackbirds 47 

Nest,  eggs,  and  young  of  Black-billed  Cuckoo 58 

Florida  Gallinule  Chick 59 

Black  Tern,  nest  and  eggs.    Photograph  by  Jenness  Richardson  60 

Nest  and  eggs  of  Mallard  Duck.     Photograph  by  L.  O.  Dart.  61 

Nest  and  eggs  of  Canvas-back  Duck 62 

Nest  and  eggs  of  Bob- white  or  Quail 63 

Nest  and  eggs  of  Ruffed  Grouse.     Photograph  by  L.  O.  Dart.  64 
Plassenger   Pigeon,   nest,   and  egg.      Photograph   of   Museum 

group 65 

Nest  and  young  of  Broad-winged  Hawk 66 

Young  Sparrow  Hawks.    Photograph  by  Jenness  Richardson.  67 

Young  Screech  Owl 68 

Ruby-throated  Hummingbird  drinking  sap 69 

Sapsucker  or  Yellow-bellied  Woodpecker 70 

Young  Downy  Woodpeckers 71 

Whip-poor-will  on  nest 72 

Nesting  place  and  eggs  of  Whip-poor-will 73 

Nest  of  Oven-bird. ...  74 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS  v 

Nest  of  Yellow  Warbler 75 

Nest  of  Chipping  Sparrow,  containing  two  young  Sparrows  and 

one  young  Cowbird 76 

Two  young  Chipping  Sparrows  and  a  young  Cowbird 76 

Nest  of  Indigo  Bunting,  containing  a  young  Cowbird 77 

Three-storied  nest  of  Yellow  Warbler.    Photograph  of  Museum 

specimen 78 

Two-storied  nest  of  Yellow  Warbler.     Photograph  of  Museum 

group 79 

Junco  and  young •  80 

Snow  Buntings  and  Redpolls.     Photograph  of  Museum  group  81 

Cedar  Waxwing,  nest,  and  young 82 

Young  Cedar  Waxwings 83 

Red-eyed  Vireo  and  nest 84 

Pine  Warbler,  nest,  and  young 85 

Young  Black-capped  Chickadees,  and  nesting  hole 86 

Black-capped    and    Hudsonian    Chickadees,    Downy    Wood- 
pecker,  and  White-breasted   Nuthatch.      Photograph   of 

Museum  group 87 

Catbird  and  nest 88 

White-breasted  Nuthatch  at  window  feeding  counter.     Photo- 
graph by  E.  C.  Brown 89 

Blue  Jay  at  window  feeding  counter.     Photograph  by  E.  C. 

Brown 89 

Downy  Woodpecker  at  window  feeding  counter.     Photograph 

by  E.  C.  Brown 90 


MANITOBA/ 


BIRD-LIFEMAP 
INNE50TA 


BOREAL  REGION 
Canadian  Zone 


AUSTRAL  REGION 
Transition  Zone 
fllleghanian  Fauna 
Typical  fllleghanian 
Pseudo  -  Campestrian 


A  REVIEW  OF  THE  ORNITHOLOGY  OF 
MINNESOTA 

INTRODUCTION 

This  attempt  at  a  "Review  of  the  Ornithology  of  Minnesota" 
is  the  outgrowth  of  an  original  plan  to  prepare  a  simple  Check-List 
of  the  birds  occurring  in  the  state  for  the  use  of  the  classes  in  bird 
study  at  the  University  of  Minnesota.  But  when  such  a  list  had 
been  completed  it  seemed  so  inadequate  that  one  addition  after 
another  was  made  to  it  until  the  present  paper  was  the  result.  As 
there  have  been  many  requests  of  late  years,  with  the  rapidly 
growing  interest  in  bird  study,  for  an  up-to-date  statement  in 
regard  to  Minnesota  birds,  it  is  hoped  that  in  its  present  form  this 
analysis  may  serve  to  fill  the  wider  field  as  well.  For  the  most 
part  the  matter  is  presented  in  simple  and  popular  form  as  it  is 
intended  primarily  for  the  amateur  and  non-technical  student. 
Except  in  the  List  of  Accidental  and  Rare  Birds,  common  names 
only  are  employed,  those  presented  in  the  1910  Check-List  of  the 
American  Ornithologists  Union  being  always  given  first  place, 
though  frequently  there  are  included  one  or  more  additional  names 
when  such  are  in  current  use  or  likely  to  be  encountered  in  litera- 
ture. The  A.  O.  U.  names  are  further  distinguished  by  being 
printed  in  a  different  type  from  the  others.  As  a  matter  of  fact, 
these  authorized  Common  Names  are,  at  present,  really  more 
satisfactory  to  the  general  student  than  the  Scientific  Names,  as 
many  of  the  latter  are  undergoing  constant  changes  in  an  effort 
to  arrive  at  a  stable  nomenclature  that  shall  in  the  end  be  in 
accord  with  all  the  requirements  of  the  official  Code. 

It  may  appear  on  first  thought  that  the  separation  of  the 
species  into  several  lists  is  a  mistake  and  will  cause  bewilderment 
and  confusion.  This  plan  has  been  adopted  in  the  belief  that  it 
will  impress  upon  the  student  the  exact  status  of  each  bird  more 
clearly  than  would  the  usual  single  list.  Brevity  and  lack  of 
repetition  in  annotation  are  also  secured  by  this  arrangement. 
The  presence  of  an  index  will  obviate  the  chief  objection  and  make 
it  easy  to  locate  in  its  assigned  place  any  particular  species. 

Subspecies  or  geographical  varieties  or  forms  have  been  rec- 
ognized and  included  in  this  paper  because  they  will  be  encountered 
in  the  bird  books  that  students  must  use.  Very  often  the  dis- 


2  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

tinctions  between  such  forms  are  so  slight  that  it  will  not  be  pos- 
sible for  the  amateur  to  recognize  them  by  any  means  ordinarily 
at  hand.  The  differentiation  can  usually  be  made  only  by  a  tech- 
nical ornithologist  with  the  aid  of  selected  series  of  specimens.  A 
careful  observance  of  the  boundaries  limiting  the  distribution  of 
the  various  subspecies  or  forms  as  laid  down  in  works  on  orni- 
thology is  the  only  means  available  to  the  beginner  for  determining 
the  special  form  that  should  occur  in  any  particular  locality.  It 
is  advised  that  the  bird-lover  and  amateur  student  pay  no  atten- 
tion to  these  ultra  refinements  in  classification,  leaving  them  to  be 
wrestled  with  by  those  more  advanced  in  the  science  of  ornithology. 
Let  a  Horned  Lark  be  a  Horned  Lark,  a  Flicker  a  Flicker,  a  Great 
Horned  Owl  a  Great  Horned  Owl,  and  so  on  without  confusion  of 
ideas  or  multiplication  of  terms  when  differences  are  only  technical 
subspecific  ones. 

It  is  not  within  the  scope  of  the  present  publication  to  include 
nesting  and  migration  dates,  extended  notes  or  means  of  identify- 
ing species.  Such  matter,  it  is  hoped,  may  be  embodied  at  a  future 
date  in  a  more  extended  work  on  the  birds  of  Minnesota.  Atten- 
tion may  be  called  to  the  presence  of  nesting  and  migration  dates 
for  southeastern  Minnesota  in  Chapman's  Handbook  of  Birds  of 
Eastern  North  America.  These  were  furnished  by  the  writer  of 
this  paper  and  are  distributed  through  the  Handbook  under  each 
species  reported  upon. 

In  answer  to  many  inquiries  as  to  the  best  book  or  books  to 
procure  for  identifying  our  birds,  the  following  may  be  suggested 
as  well  suited  to  the  needs  of  the  general  student.  For  the  beginner 
and  casual  observer,  there  is  perhaps  nothing  better  than  Chester 
A.  Reed's  Guides  to  the  Birds  East  of  the  Rockies.  It  is  issued  in 
two  parts — Land  Birds  and  Water  Birds.  They  are  small  oblong 
books,  five  and  a  half  by  three  and  a  quarter  inches  in  size,  and 
contain  brief  but  satisfactory  descriptions  and  small  colored 
illustrations  of  all  the  birds  occurring  in  Minnesota.  Their  small 
size  permits  of  their  being  easily  carried  in  the  field.  They  sell  for 
one  dollar  each  in  flexible  cloth  and  twenty-five  cents  extra  in 
flexible  leather  binding.  For  the  more  advanced  and  serious 
studerit  there  is  no  more  practical  and  satisfactory  book  than 
Dr.  Frank  M.  Chapman's  Handbook  of  Birds  of  Eastern  North 
America.  It  contains  an  introduction  of  one  hundred  pages  cover- 
ing in  popular  style  the  general  subject  of  ornithology  in  its  various 
aspects,  followed  by  keys  for  identification,  descriptions,  ranges, 


INTRODUCTION  3- 

brief  biographies,  etc.,  and  numerous  illustrations.  The  price  is 
four  dollars  in  library  cloth  binding  and  four  dollars  and  twenty- 
five  cents  in  flexible  leather  binding.  The  size  of  the  book  in  the 
latter  form  is  the  same  as  this  publication,  a  convenient  volume 
for  carrying  afield  in  the  pocket  or  bag  if  so  desired.  Both  Reed's 
and  Chapman's  books  can  usually  be  purchased  of  booksellers,  or 
if  not,  of  The  National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies,  1974 
Broadway,  New  York  City.  There  are  of  course  many  other 
publications  that  are  of  value  in  studying  our  birds,  but  these  two 
fill  very  well  the  needs  of  the  student,  in  the  beginning  at  least. 
The  Bibliography  presented  herewith  will  furnish  to  those  interested 
the  titles  and  whereabouts  of  many  articles  dealing  especially  with 
Minnesota  birds. 

The  life-zone  map  accompanying  this  article  is  provisional 
only,  based  on  such  information  as  has  been  accumulated  to  date 
in  regard  to  the  distribution  of  Minnesota  birds  in  the  nesting 
season.  No  attempt  has  been  made  to  indicate  minor  irregu- 
larities in  the  boundary  lines  of  the  several  areas,  as  this  would  be 
impracticable  in  so  small  a  map.  Therefore  the  outlines  here 
depicted  are  to  be  taken  in  a  general  sense  only.  The  eastern 
boundary  of  what  is  designated  the  Pseudo-Campestrian  is  es- 
pecially uncertain  and  will  probably  require  some  changes,  particu- 
larly in  its  southern  half.  For  the  information  of  those  who  are 
not  familiar  with  the  subject  of  life  zones,  it  may  be  stated  that  it 
is  the  regular  and  common  nesting  bird  population  that  imparts 
distinction  to  an  area,  the  transients  and  accidental  or  rare  birds 
being  in  no  way  considered.  Plants  and  all  forms  of  animal  life 
in  addition  to  birds  are  equally  considered  in  defining  life  zones 
and  areas. 

The  illustrations  grouped  at  the  end  of  this  volume  are  from 
original  photographs  in  the  collection  of  the  Zoological  Survey, 
except  the  picture  of  the  Horned  Lark  which  is  from  a  drawing 
made  for  the  Survey  by  Kako  Morita.  All  but  two  have  been 
used  before  to  illustrate  articles  by  the  writer  published  in  The 
Minnesotan,  and  are  here  reproduced  from  the  same  half-tone 
blocks,  which  were  kindly  presented  to  the  Museum  by  the  editors, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maurice  I.  Flagg. 

The  sources  of  information  upon  which  this  Review  is  based 
are  published  records  and  a  considerable  accumulation  of  local 
lists  and  notes  in  the  files  of  the  Zoological  Division  of  The  Geo- 
logical and  Natural  History  Survey  of  Minnesota.  The  author's 


4  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

records,  covering  a  period  of  forty  odd  years  during  which  he  has 
been  studying  Minnesota  birds,  have  been  largely  augmented  by 
correspondence  and  lists  generously  furnished  by  numerous  ob- 
servers in  the  state  to  whom  it  is  desired  in  this  connection  to 
express  appreciative  thanks  for  their  kind  and  invaluable  assistance. 
The  Biological  Survey  at  Washington  has  also  from  time  to  time 
very  courteously  permitted  the  transcription  from  its  files  of  all 
reports  from  Minnesota  observers.  Mr.  Carlos  Avery,  Game  and 
Fish  Commissioner  of  Minnesota,  has  kindly  furnished  the  list  of 
Game  Refuges  with  area  of  each  and  also  the  map  showing  their 
location.  I  have  to  thank  Dr.  Witmer  Stone,  of  Philadelphia, 
editor  of  The  Auk,  for  advice  in  regard  to  several  important  matters. 
For  the  carefully  prepared  Index  and  assistance  in  many  other 
ways,  the  author  is  indebted  to  his  friend  Mr.  William  Kilgore,  Jr. 

ANIMAL  BIOLOGY  BUILDING, 
UNIVERSITY  OF  MINNESOTA, 
MINNEAPOLIS,  MINNESOTA. 


Young  Rose-breasted  Grosbeaks 


A  SYNOPSIS  OF  THE   BIRD   LIFE   OF   MINNESOTA 
MINNESOTA  AS  A  HOME  FOR  BIRDS 

Minnesota,  with  its  vast  area  of  84,286  square  miles  of  territory 
and  its  greatly  diversified  surface,  presents  favorable  conditions 
for  an  abundant  and  a  varied  bird  life.  North  and  south — four 
hundred  miles — it  spans  the  line  which  separates  the  boreal  ever- 
green forests  from  the  deciduous  woods  and  groves  of  the  warmer 
regions  to  the  southward.  Each  affords  a  characteristic  assortment 
of  resident  and  breeding  birds.  East  and  west — three  hundred 
fifty-seven  miles  at  the  Canadian  boundary,  one  hundred  eighty 
miles  at  the  narrowest  part — the  state  overlaps  the  wooded  area 
and  embraces  a  considerable  portion  of  the  western  treeless  plains, 
thus  securing  a  representation  of  the  highly  specialized  prairie 
fauna.  The  Mississippi  bottom-land  along  the  southeastern 
boundary  of  the  state  has  a  relatively  high  mean  temperature,  and 
entices  a  few  species  from  their  proper  habitat  much  farther  south. 
The  thousands  of  lakes,  ponds,  and  streams  and  the  proximity  of 
Lake  Superior — aggregating  five  thousand  seven  hundred  square 
miles  of  water  area: — afford  congenial  haunts  for  an  immense  num- 
ber of  water  birds  of  many  species,  and  while  these  have  deplor- 
ably decreased  with  the  changes  consequent  upon  the  advent  of 
man,  there  is  still  an  unusually  rich  aquatic  bird  life. 

LIFE  ZONES  AND  FAUNAL  AREAS  OF  MINNESOTA 

Naturalists  divide  the  surface  of  the  earth  into  biological 
Regions,  each  distinguished  by  certain  characteristic  features  of 
its  animal  and  plant  life.  These  major  areas  are  again  divided 
into  Life  Zones  according  to  still  more  detailed  groupings  of  living 
forms  distinctive  of  each;  and  these  Life  Zones  are  still  further 
subdivided  into  what  are  called  by  zoologists  Faunal  Areas.  The 
term  Biogeography  is  often  used  for  this  particular  branch  of 
biological  study;  with  subdivisions  into  Zoogeography,  the  geo- 
graphical distribution  of  animals,  and  Phytogeography,  the  geo- 
graphical distribution  of  plants.  Minnesota  embraces  Zones 
belonging  to  two  Regions.  The  northeastern  portion  of  the  state  lies 
within  what  is  known  as  the  Canadian  Zone  of  the  Boreal  Region; 
distinguished  by  its  coniferous  forests  and  associated  plant  forms 
and  an  animal  life — especially  bird  life — distinctively  its  own.  The 
remainder  of  the  state  belongs  to  the  Transition  Zone,  which  is 


•6  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

the  northern  division  of  the  Austral  Region.  Thus  two  of  the 
major  biologic  divisions  of  North  America,  the  Boreal  on  the  north 
and  the  Austral  on  the  south,  come  in  contact  diagonally  across 
the  state  of  Minnesota.  The  Zones  south  of  the  Canadian  are 
subdivided  into  eastern  and  western  portions,  designated  by 
zoologists  Fdunal  Areas  >  the  chief  determining  factor  being  the 
mean  humidity.  For  example,  the  humid  eastern  portion  of  the 
Transition  Zone  from  the  Great  Plains  to  the  Atlantic  Coast  is 
called  the  Alleghanian  Faunal  Area,  within  which  lies  all  of  Minne- 
sota not  included  in  the  Canadian. 

It  is  not  of  course  to  be  understood  that  these  various  life 
areas  are  separated  from  one  another  by  well-defined  lines.  In- 
stead, two  contiguous  areas  blend  into  each  other  over  a  strip  of 
greater  or  lesser  width,  which  presents  intermingled  characteristics 
of  each. 

On  the  western  prairies  of  Minnesota  are  to  be  found  a  consid- 
erable sprinkling  of  plants  and  animals  from  what  was  formerly 
known  as  the  Campestrian  or  Plains  Flora  and  Fauna  farther 
west;  and  in  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  state  occurs,  as  an 
extension  northward  along  the  bottom-land  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  a  smaller  representation  from  the  Carolinian  Flora  and 
Fauna  of  the  Upper  Austral  Zone  (the  middle  portion  of  the  Austral 
Region)  belonging  properly  to  the  latitude  of  Iowa  and  Illinois. 
But  these  intrusions  from  the  west  and  south  are  hardly  great 
enough  to  give  a  dominant  character  to  the  areas  where  they 
occur,  and  may  be  regarded  simply  as  a  sort  of  veil  over  the  true 
face  of  the  country.  To  designate  these  slightly  differentiated 
life  areas  of  the  state  and  as  expressing  their  incomplete  character, 
the  terms  Pseudo-  Campestrian  and  Pseudo-  Carolinian  may,  per- 
haps, be  convenient  and  have  been  so  used  on  the  Life-Zone  Map 
accompanying  this  paper.  Between  these  modified  areas  and 
south  of  the  Canadian,  is  a  great  tract,  left  white  on  the  map, 
which  is  typical  Alleghanian,  at  least  so  far  as  the  birds  are  con- 
cerned, except  for  the  presence  of  the  Western  Meadowlark  and 
scattered  colonies  of  Brewer's  Blackbird,  western  species  that  have 
invaded  this  region. 

Western    Birds    Breeding    in    the    Pseudo- Campestrian    or    Prairie 
Region  of  Minnesota  but  Not  Regularly  Elsewhere  in  the  State 

Western  Grebe,  Eared  Grebe,  Swainson's  Hawk,  Burrowing 
Owl,  Arkansas  Kingbird,  Brewer's  Blackbird  (isolated  colonies 


SYNOPSIS  OF  BIRD  LIFE  7 

further  east),   Chestnut-collared  Longspur,   McCown's  Longspur, 
Baird's  Sparrow,  Lark  Bunting,  and  Sprague's  Pipit. 

Southern  Birds  Breeding  in  the  Pseudo- Carolinian,  along  the  South- 
eastern   Border   of    Minnesota,    but    Not    Regularly 
Elsewhere  in  the  State 

Red-bellied  Woodpecker,  Field  Sparrow  (north  to  Isanti 
County),  Prothonotary  Warbler  (north  to  Isanti  County),  Blue- 
winged  Warbler,  Louisiana  Water-Thrush  (north  along  St.  Croix 
River  to  Taylor's  Falls).  . 

The  Following  Northern  Birds  Occur  Regularly  as  Permanent  Resi- 
dents in  the  Canadian  or  Evergreen  Forests  of  Northern  Min- 
nesota but   Further   South   Are    Winter    Visitants, 
Stragglers,  or  Absent 

Canada  Spruce  Partridge,  Great  Gray  Owl,  Richardson's  Owl, 
Arctic  Three-toed  Woodpecker,  American  Three-toed  Woodpecker, 
Canada  Jay,  Northern  Raven,  Purple  Finch,  Red  Crossbill,  Pine 
Siskin,  and  Hudsonian  Chickadee. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  Minnesota  as  a  whole  affords  a  varied 
field  for  the  ornithologist  and  that  a  study  of  its  birds  in  any  one 
locality  is  but  a  fragment  of  the  complete  story. 

STATISTICS  AND  MANNER  OF  OCCURRENCE  OF  MINNESOTA  BIRDS 

The  total  number  of  different  kinds  of  birds  that  are  known  at 
the  present  time  to  occur  regularly  in  Minnesota  is  two  hundred 
and  sixty-two  species,  ten  of  which  are  represented  by  one  additional 
subspecies  and  one  by  two,  making  twelve  additional  subspecies. 
To  this  number  are  to  be  added  thirty-three  species  and  nine  sub- 
species that  are  rare  or  accidental,  six  species  that  formerly 
occurred  but  are  no  longer  found,  two  introduced  species,  and 
four  species  the  present  status  of  which  is  unsettled,  making  a 
complete  list  of  three  hundred  and  seven  species  and  twenty-one 
subspecies.  In  addition  to  this  list  thirty-four  species  and  three 
subspecies  have  been  attributed  to  the  state  by' various  authors, 
but  the  evidence  of  their  occurrence  is  unsatisfactory  (Hypothet- 
ical List). 

An  analysis  of  the  regular  list  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-two 
species  and  twelve  subspecies  shows  the  manner  of  their  occur- 
rence to  be  as  follows:  thirty-one  species  and  four  subspecies  are 
Permanent  Residents,  that  is  they  are  represented  throughout  the 


8  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

entire  year,  as  for  example  the  Blue  Jay  and  Chickadee;  one 
hundred  and  seventy-four  species  and  three  subspecies  are  Summer 
Residents,  birds  that  come  to  Minnesota  to  rear  their  young  but 
retreat  southward  in  the  fall.  These  two  groups  combined  con- 
stitute the  regular  nesting  population — two  hundred  and  five 
species  and  seven  subspecies.  Forty-five  species  and  two  sub- 
species are  Transients  only,  passing  spring  and  fall  entirely  across 
the  state  north  and  south,  as  for  example  the  Snow  Goose,  the 
White-crowned  Sparrow,  the  Black-poll  Warbler  and  many  of  the 
Waders.  Twelve  species  and  three  subspecies  are  Winter  Visi- 
tants, coming  into  Minnesota  from  their  summer  homes  in  the  north 
only  during  the  colder  months. 

A  tabulation  of  the  above  analysis  will  present  the  figures 
more  plainly. 

Species  Subspecies 

Permanent  Residents '    31  4 

Summer  Residents 174  3 

Transients 45  2 

Winter  Visitants 12  3 

Total  Regular  List 262  12 

Regular  List 262                  12 

Rare  and  Accidental 33                    9 

Extirpated 6 

Introduced 2 

Unsettled  .  .  4 


Total  Complete  List 307  21 

Hypothetical  List 34  3 

The  above  figures  are  for  the  state  as  a  whole,  but  from  what 
has  already  been  said  in  regard  to  the  Faunal  Areas  represented 
it  will  be  understood  that  the  bird  population  of  one  locality  may 
differ  greatly,  especially  in  the  summer  residents  and  migrants, 
from  that  of  another  at  a  considerable  distance  from  the  first. 
Thus  many  species  that  are  only  migrants  in  the  southern  half  of 
the  state  are  common  summer  residents  in  the  evergreen  forests 
of  the  northern  half.  Some  birds  found  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  state  are  never  found  in  the  northern  part,  and  vice  versa. 
The  same  is  true  of  the  eastern  and  western  portions.  To  illustrate: 
the  complete  list  of  birds  of  Ramsey  and  Hennepin  counties,  in 
the  southeastern  quarter  of  the  state,  contains  248  species  (omitting 


SYNOPSIS   OF   BIRD  LIFE  9 

subspecies).  Of  these  some  89  are  Transients,  while  there  are  only 
44  Transients  for  the  state  at  "large,  showing  that  45  species  pass 
through  these  counties  to  nest  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  state 
or  beyond.  There  are  112  Summer  Residents,  72  less  than  for  the 
whole  state;  15  Permanent  Residents;  20  Winter  Visitants  (the 
increase  over  the  state  total  is  due  to  certain  Permanent  Resi- 
dents in  the  north  being  Winter  Visitants  in  the  south);  and  12 
Accidental  and  Rare  species. 

WINTER  BIRD  LIFE  OF  MINNESOTA 

A  northern  state  like  Minnesota,  with  long  and  severe  winters 
and  usually  heavy  and  continuous  snows,  presents  conditions 
unfavorable  for  an  abundant  bird  life.  As  a  result  the  number  of 
individuals  or  aggregate  bird  population  is  rather  scanty,  especially 
in  the  northern,  more  boreal  portion.  But  when  many  observa- 
tion's from  all  parts  of  the  state,  made  through  a  series  of  varying 
seasons,  are  examined,  a  surprisingly  large  number  of  species  will 
be  found  to  occur.  A  regular  winter  list  thus  compiled  contains  no 
less  than  43  species  and  7  subspecies,  and  enough  accidental  and 
rare  species  have  been  met  with  to  bring  the  total  to  the  very 
considerable  number  of  89  species  and  7  subspecies. 

A  few  species,  common  as  summer  residents  or  migrants,  are 
represented  during  the  winter  by  only  a  comparatively  few  in- 
dividuals, the  bulk  retreating  beyond  our  southern  boundary. 
Such  for  example  are  the  Junco,  Brown  Creeper,  Red-breasted 
Nuthatch,  Tree  Sparrow,  Cedar  Waxwing,  Crow,  and  Goldfinch. 
These  are  found  chiefly  in  sheltered  places  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  state,  most  commonly  during  mild  winters.  They  may  be 
considered  as  Half-Hardy  birds.  Many  of  them  perish  if  the 
weather  suddenly  becomes'  severe. 

For  a  fuller  and  more  detailed  account  of  the  winter  birds  see 
The  Winter  Bird  Life  of  Minnesota,  by  T.  S.  Roberts,  published  by 
the  Zoological  Division  of  the  Geological  and  Natural  History 
Survey  of  Minnesota,  February,  1916.  Copies  may  be  had  by 
application  to  the  Zoological  Museum,  University  of  Minnesota, 
Minneapolis,  Minn. 

MIGRATION  OF  MINNESOTA  BIRDS 

The  subject  of  the  migration  of  birds  is  full  of  intense  interest, 
mystery,  and  astonishing  revelation.  Of  Minnesota  birds  no  less 
than  72  species  retreat  entirely  beyond  the  southern  limits  of  the 


10 


THOMAS  SADLER   ROBERTS 


United  States  to  spend  the  winter,  and  of  these  all  the  individuals 
of  26  species  go  all  the  way  to  the  plains,  forests,  and  mountains  of 
South  America,  making  this  long  and  hazardous  round  trip  annually 
in  response  to  an  imperative  instinctive  habit  (or  "physiological 
prompting")  implanted  in  them  by  conditions  existing  in  ages  now 
long  past.  Within  an  area  including  the  southern  portion  of  the 
eastern  United  States,  Mexico,  Central  America,  the  West  Indies, 
and  northern  South  America  may  be  found  during  the  winter  time 
some  113  other  species  of  Minnesota  birds  that  are  spending  the 
northern  cold  season  in  these  more  hospitable  climes.  Thirty-six 
species  do  not  extend  their  journeyings  beyond  the  southern  tier 
of  states,  and  are  ever  ready  to  return  to  the  Northland  with  the 
first  indications  that  forbidding  Winter  has  released  his  icy  grip. 
These  latter  birds  constitute  our  early  spring  arrivals.  The  more 
southern-wintering  species  come  later  and  make  their  appearance 
about  the  same  time  each  year,  no  matter  what  the  seasonal 
conditions  may  be. 


Young  Cooper's  Hawks 


KEY   TO   ABBREVIATIONS   USED    IN    LISTS 

P.R.  Permanent  Resident.     Breeds. 

S.R.  Summer  Resident.     Breeds. 

T.V.  Transient  Visitant.     Migrant  across  state  spring  and  fall. 

W.V.          Winter  Visitant. 

H.H.  Half-Hardy:  birds  the  bulk  of  which  migrate  south  in  the 
winter  but  of  which  a  limited  number  remain,  chiefly  in 
the  southern  part  of  the  state,  throughout  the  winter 
months. 

Can.  Canadian  Zone.     See  map. 

Camp.       Pseudo-Campestrian  Life  Area.     See  map. 

Car.  Pseudo- Carolinian  Life  Area.     See  map. 

Trans.       Transition  Zone.     See  map. 

N.  North  or  Northern. 

S.  South  or  Southern. 

W.  West  or  Western. 

E.  East  or  Eastern. 

Sur.  Col.  Collection  of  the  Zoological  Museum  of  the  Geological 
and  Natural  History  Survey  of  Minnesota,  located  in 
the  Animal  Biology  Building,  University  of  Minnesota, 
Minneapolis. 

Illustrative  Example:  Junco,  SNOWBIRD.  Trans: — T.V.  S: — H.H. 
Can: — S.R.  This  is  to  be  interpreted  thus: — the  Junco  is  a 
migrant  spring  and  fall  in  the  southern  and  western  parts  of  the 
state  (Transition  Zone)  and  a  few  remain  through  the  winter, 
chiefly  in  the  southern  portion;  while  in  the  evergreen  forests 
of  the  state  (Canadian  Zone)  it  is  a  summer  resident  and  breeds. 


Young  Scarlet  Tanagers 


A    CHECK-LIST    OF    BIRDS    KNOWN    TO    OCCUR 
REGULARLY   IN    MINNESOTA 

WATER  BIRDS 

* 
ORDER:     Diving  Birds 

Family : — Grebes. 

Western  Grebe.  Camp.: — S.R.  Straggler  E.  (Lake  Minnetonka, 
Hennepin  Co.,  May  29,  1917,  Roberts) 

HolboelPs  Grebe,  RED-NECKED  GREBE.     S.R. 

Horned  Grebe.     S:— T.V.     N:— S.R. 

Eared  Grebe.     Camp: — S.R. 

Pied-billed  Grebe,  DABCHICK,  HELLDIVER.     S.R. 
Family : — Loons. 

Loon,  GREAT  NORTHERN  DIVER.     S.R. 

ORDER:     Long-winged  Swimmers 

Family: — Gulls  and  Terns. 

Herring  Gull.     S: — T.V.     N: — S.R.     Lake  Superior: — P.R. 

Ring-billed  Gull.     T.V. 

Franklin's  Gull,  FRANKLIN'S  ROSY  GULL.     W: — S.R.     E: — T.V. 

Bonaparte's  Gull.     T.V. 

Caspian  Tern.     T.V. 

Forster's  Tern.     S.R.,  chiefly  W. 

Common  Tern,  WILSON'S  TERN.     S:— T.V.     N:— S.R. 

Black  Tern.     S.R. 

ORDER:     Totipalmate  Swimmers 

Family : — Cormorants. 

Double-crested  Cormorant,  BLACK  LOON,  SHAG.     S.R. 
Family : — Pelicans. 

White  Pelican.     T.V.;  formerly  S.R. 

ORDER:     Lamellirostral  Swimmers 

Family: — Ducks,  Geese,  and  Swans. 

Mergansers,  Shelldrakes,  or  Fish  Ducks 

Merganser,  AM.  MERGANSER,  GOOSANDER,  BIG  SAW-BILL,  BIG 
SHELLDRAKE,  etc.  S: — T.V.  N: — S.R.  Lake  Superior: — 
P.R. 


BIRDS   OCCURRING   REGULARLY  13 

Red-breasted  Merganser.   S: — T.V.   N: — S.R.   Lake  Superior:— 

P.R. 
Hooded  Merganser,  LITTLE  SAW-BILL.  FISH  DUCK.     S.R. 

Surface  Feeding  Ducks 
Mallard.     S.R. 

Black  Duck,  BLACK  MALLARD,  DUSKY  MALLARD.     T.V. 
Gadwall,  GRAY  DUCK.     S.R. 
Baldpate,  WIDGEON.     T.V. 

Green-winged  Teal.     Chiefly  T.V.     B.  sparingly. 
Blue-winged  Teal.     S.R. 
Shoveler,  SPOONBILL.     S.R. 
Pintail,  SPRIGTAIL.     S.R. 
Wood  Duck,  SUMMER  DUCK.     S.R. 

Diving  Ducks 

Redhead,  POCHARD.     S.R.;  now  largely  T.V. 
Canvas-back.     S.R.;  now  largely  T.V. 
Scaup  Duck,  GREATER  SCAUP,  BIG  BLUE-BILL.     T.V. 
Lesser  Scaup  Duck,  LITTLE  BLUE-BILL.     S.R. ;  bulk  T.V. 
Ring-necked  Duck.     S.R.;  bulk  now  T.V. 

Golden-eye,  WHISTLE- WING.     S.R.     Lake  Superior,  etc.:--P.R. 
Buffle-head,  BUTTER-BALL,  SPIRIT  DUCK.     S.R.;  bulk  T.V. 
Old-squaw,  LONG-BAILED  DUCK.     W.V. ;  chiefly  Lake  Superior. 

Occasional  migrant  spring  and  fall  elsewhere. 
White-winged  Scoter.     T.V.     Occurs  also  in  winter  where  open 

water. 
Ruddy  Duck.     S.R. 

Geese 
Snow  Goose,  WHITE  BRANT.     Two  forms  occur: — 

Snow  Goose.     Common  T.V. 

Greater  Snow  Goose.    Accidental  T.V.    See  Accidental  List. 
Blue  Goose.     T.V. 

White-fronted  Goose,  SPECKLE-BELLY.     T.V. 
Canada  Goose,  HONKER.     Three  forms  occur: — 

Canada  Goose  (large).     T.V.;  formerly  S.R. 

Hutchins's  Goose  (medium).    Rare  T.V.    See  Accidental  List. 

Cackling  Goose  (small).    Rare  T.V.    See  Accidental  List. 

Swans 
Whistling  Swan.     T.V. 

ORDER:     Herons  and  Bitterns 
Family: — Herons  and  Bitterns. 


14  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

Bittern.     S.R. 
Least  Bittern.     S.R. 
Great  Blue  Heron.     S.R. 
Green  Heron.     S.R.;  chiefly. S. 
Black-crowned  Night  Heron.     S.R.;  chiefly  S. 

ORDER:     Cranes,  Rails,  etc. 

Family: — Cranes. 

Whooping  Crane.     Formerly  S.R.     Now  an  extremely  rare  T.V. 

Sandhill  Crane.     T.V.;  formerly  S.R. 
Family: — Rails,  Gallinules,  and  Coots. 

King  Rail.     S.R. ;  chiefly  S. 

Virginia  Rail.     S.R. 

Sora,  CAROLINA  RAIL.     S.R. 

Yellow  Rail.     S.R. 

Florida  Gallinule.     S.R.;  chiefly  S. 

Coot,  MUDHEN.     S.R. 

ORDER:  Shore-birds 

Family : — Phalaropes. 

Northern  Phalarope.     T.V. 

Wilson's  Phalarope.     S.R. 
Family: — Sandpipers,  Snipes,  Godwits,  Curlews,  etc. 

Woodcock.     S.R. 

Wilson's  Snipe,  JACK  SNIPE.     S.R. 

Long-billed  Dowitcher.     T.V. 

Stilt  Sandpiper.     T.V. 

Pectoral  Sandpiper,  GRASS  SNIPE.     T.V. 

White-rumped  Sandpiper.     T.V. 

Baird's  Sandpiper.     T.V. 

Least  Sandpiper,  AMERICAN  STINT.     T.V. 

Red-backed  Sandpiper,  BLACK-BELLIED  SANDPIPER.     T.V. 

Semipalmated  Sandpiper.     T.V. 

Marbled  Godwit.     W:— S.R. 

Hudsonian  Godwit.     T.V. 

Greater  Yellow-legs,  TELL-TALE.     T.V. 

Yellow-legs,  LESSER  YELLOW-LEGS.     T.V. 

Solitary  Sandpiper.     S:— T.V.     N:— S.R. 

Western  Willet.     T.V.;  formerly  S.R. 

Upland  Plover,  BARTRAMIAN  SANDPIPER.     S.R 

Buff-breasted  Sandpiper.     T.V. 


BIRDS  OCCURRING  REGULARLY  15 

Spotted  Sandpiper,  TIP-UP,  TEETER  SNIPE.     S.R. 
Family : — Plovers. 

Black-bellied  Plover.     T.V. 
Golden  Plover.     T.V. 
Killdeer.     S.R. 
Semipalmated  Plover.     T.V. 

LAND  BIRDS 
ORDER:     Gallinaceous  Birds 

Family: — Bob-whites,  Quails,  etc. 

Bob-white,  QUAIL.     P.R. 
Family: — Grouse,  Spruce  Partridges,  etc. 

Canada  Spruce  Partridge,  SPRUCE  GROUSE.     Can: — P.R. 
Ruffed  Grouse,  "PARTRIDGE."     P.R. 

Two  forms  occur,  the  Ruffed  Grouse  and  the  Canada  Ruffed 

Grouse  with  many  intergrades  throughout  the  state. 
Prairie  Chicken,  PRAIFTE  HEN,  PINNATED  GROUSE.     P.R. 
Prairie  Sharp-tailed  Giouse,  WHITE-BREASTED  GROUSE.     P.R. 

ORDER:     Pigeons  and  Doves 

Family: — Pigeons  and  Doves. 
Mourning  Dove.     S.R. 

ORDER:     Birds  of  Prey 

Family: — American  Vultures. 

Turkey  Vulture.     S.R. 
Family: — Hawks,  Eagles,  Kites,  etc. 
Swallow-tailed  Kite.     S.R. 
Marsh  Hawk,  MARSH  HARRIER.     S.R. 
Sharp-shinned  Hawk.     S.R. 

Cooper's  Hawk,  HEN  HAWK,  CHICKEN  HAWK.     S.R. 
Goshawk.     Chiefly  W.V.;  occasional  S.R. 
Red-tailed  Hawk.     Four  forms  occur: — 

Red-tailed  Hawk.     S.R. 

Western  Red-tail.     See  Accidental  List. 

Harlan's  Hawk.     See  Accidental  List. 

Krider's  Hawk.     S.R. ;  chiefly  southwestern. 
Swainson's  Hawk.     S.R.;  chiefly  W. 
Broad-winged  Hawk.     S.R. 
Rough-legged  Hawk.     W.V. 
Ferruginous  Rough-leg.     Camp: — T.V.     (S.R.  ?) 


16  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

Golden  Eagle.     P.R. 

Bald  Eagle.     S.R. 
Family: — Falcons,  etc. 

Duck  Hawk,  PEREGRINE  FALCON.     S.R. 

Pigeon  Hawk.     S.R. 

Sparrow  Hawk.     S.R. 
Family : — Ospreys. 

Osprey,  FISH  HAWK.     S.R. 
Family: — Horned  Owls,  Hoot  Owls,  etc. 

Long-eared  Owl,  WILSON'S  OWL.     S.R. 

Short-eared   Owl,    MARSH   OWL.      Chiefly   S.R.;    occasional    in 
winter. 

Barred  Owl.     P.R. 

Great  Gray  Owl.     P.R.;  chiefly  N. 

Richardson's  Owl.     N:— W.V.;  rarely  S.R. 

Saw-whet  Owl.     P.R. 

Screech  Owl.     P.R. 

Great  Horned  Owl,  HOOT  OWL.     Three  forms  occur: — 
Great  Horned  Owl.     P.R. 
Western  Horned  Owl.     P.R. 
Arctic  Horned  Owl.     W.V. 

Snowy  Owl.     W.V. 

Hawk  Owl.     W.V.     (N :— P.R.  ?) 

Burrowing  Owl.     Camp: — S.R. 

ORDER:     Cuckoos,  Kingfishers,  etc. 

Family : — Cuckoos. 

Yellow-billed  Cuckoo.     S.R. 
Black-billed  Cuckoo.     S.R. 

Family : — Kingfishers. 

Belted  Kingfisher.     S.R. ;  occasional  in  winter. 

ORDER :     Woodpeckers 

Family : — Woodpeckers 

Hairy  Woodpecker.     Two  forms  occur: — 
Hairy  Woodpecker.     P.R. 

Northern  Hairy  Woodpecker.  P.R.  (or  W.V.?);  chiefly  N. 
Downy  Woodpecker.     Two  forms  occur: — 
Downy  Woodpecker.     P.R. 

Nelson's    Downy    Woodpecker,    NORTHERN    DOWNY    WOOD- 
PECKER (Ridgway).     P.R. 


BIRDS  OCCURRING  REGULARLY  17 

Arctic    Three-toed    Woodpecker,    BLACK-BACKED    THREE-TOED 

WOODPECKER.     Can: — P.R. 
Three-toed  Woodpecker,  AMERICAN  THREE-TOED  WOODPECKER. 

Can:— P.R. 

Yellow-bellied  Sapsucker.     S.R. 
Northern  Pileated  Woodpecker,  LOG-COCK.     P.R. 
Red-headed  Woodpecker.     S.R. 

Red-bellied  Woodpecker.     Car: — P.R.     Casual  elsewhere. 
Northern  Flicker,   GOLDEN-WINGED  WOODPECKER,   HIGH-HOLE, 

etc.     S.R. 

ORDER:     Goatsuckers,  Swifts,  etc. 

Family: — Goatsuckers,  etc. 
Whip-poor-will.     S.R. 

Nighthawk,  BULL-BAT.     Two  forms  occur: — 
Nighthawk.     S.R. 

Bennett's  Nighthawk.     S.R.,  western. 
Family : — Swifts. 

Chimney  Swift,  CHIMNEY  "SWALLOW."     S.R. 
Family : — Hu  mmingbirds. 

Ruby-throated  Hummingbird.     S.R. 

ORDER:     Perching  Birds 

Family : — Flycatchers. 

Kingbird.     S.R. 

Arkansas  Kingbird,  WESTERN  KINGBIRD.     Camp: — S.R. 

Crested  Flycatcher,  GREAT  CRESTED  FLYCATCHER.     S.R. 

Phoebe,  HOUSE  PEWEE.     S.R. 

Olive-sided  Flycatcher.     S:— T.V.     Can:— S.R. 

Wood  Pewee.     S.R. 

Yellow-bellied  Flycatcher.     S:— T.V.     Can:— S.R. 

Alder  Flycatcher,  TRAILL'S  FLYCATCHER.     S.R. 

Least  Flycatcher,  CHEBEC.     S.R. 
Family : — Larks. 

Horned  Lark,  SHORE  LARK.     Two  forms  occur: — 
Prairie  Horned  Lark.     S.R.  and  south  H.H. 
Hoyt's  Horned  Lark.     W.V.;  chiefly  W. 
Family: — Crows,  Jays,  etc. 

Blue  Jay.     P.R. 

Canada  Jay,  MOOSEBIRD,  CAMP-ROBBER.     Can: — P.R. 

Northern  Raven.     N:— P.R.     S:— W.V. 


18  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

Crow.     S.R.     S:— H.H. 
Family: — Blackbirds,  Orioles,  etc. 

Bobolink,  REEDBIRD,  RICEBIRD.     S.R. 

Cowbird,  Cow  BUNTING.     S.R. 

Yellow-headed  Blackbird.     S.R. 

Red- winged  Blackbird.     Two  forms  occur   (A.O.  U.    Check  List 

ipio):— 

Red-winged  Blackbird.     S.R. 
Thick-billed  Red-wing.     T.V. 
Meadowlark,  EASTERN  MEADOWLARK.     SE: — S.R. 
Western  Meadowlark.     S.R. 
Orchard  Oriole.     S.R.;  chiefly  S. 
Baltimore  Oriole,  HANG-NEST.     S.R. 
Rusty  Blackbird.     T.V. 
Brewer's  Blackbird.     S.R.;  chiefly  Camp,  but  numerous  colonies 

appearing   southeastward   as   far,    at   least,    as    Isanti   and 

Hennepin  counties. 

Bronzed  Grackle,  CROW  BLACKBIRD.     S.R. 
Family: — Finches,  Sparrows,  etc. 
Evening  Grosbeak.     W.V. 
Pine  Grosbeak.     W.V. 

Purple  Finch.     S:— Bulk  T.V.;  few  H.H.     Can:— S.R. 
Crossbill,  RED  CROSSBILL.     Can:— P.R.     S:— W.V. 
White-winged  Crossbill.     W.V.     (Can:— P.R.  ?) 
Hoary  Redpoll.     W.V. 

Redpoll,  REDPOLL  LINNET.     Two  forms  occur: — 
Redpoll,  COMMON  or  LESSER  REDPOLL.     W.V. 
Greater  Redpoll.     W.V. 
Goldfinch,    THISTLE-BIRD,    "WILD    CANARY."     Bulk    S.R.;    few 

H.H.  in  S. 

Pine  Siskin,  PINE  LINNET.     Can: — S.R.     S: — W.V. 
Snow  Bunting,  SNOWFLAKE.     W.V. 
Lapland  Longspur.     W.V. 
Smith's  Longspur.     T.V. 
Chestnut-collared  Longspur,  BLACK-BELLIED  LONGSPUR.    Camp: 

—S.R. 

McCown's  Longspur.     Camp: — S.R. 

Vesper  Sparrow,  BAY- WINGED  BUNTING,  GRASS  FINCH.     S.R. 
Savannah  Sparrow.     S.R. 
Baird's  Sparrow.     Camp: — S.R. 
Western  Grasshopper  Sparrow,  YELLOW- WINGED  SPARROW.   S.R. 


BIRDS  OCCURRING  REGULARLY  19 

Henslow's  Sparrow.     S.R. 

LeConte's  Sparrow.     S.R. 

Nelson's  Sparrow,  NELSON'S  SHARP-TAILED  FINCH.     S.R. 

Lark  Sparrow,  LARK  FINCH.     S.R. 

Harris's  Sparrow,  HARRIS'S  FINCH.     T.V. 

White-crowned  Sparrow.     Two  forms  occur: — 
White-crowned  Sparrow.     T.V. 
Gambel's  Sparrow,  INTERMEDIATE  SPARROW.     T.V. 

White-throated  Sparrow.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Tree  Sparrow.     Bulk  T.V.;  many  winter  chiefly  S. 

Chipping  Sparrow.     S.R. 

Clay-colored  Sparrow.     S.R. 

Field  Sparrow.     S:— S.R. 

Junco,  SNOWBIRD.     Two  forms  occur: — 

Slate-colored  Junco.    Trans:— T.V.     S:— H.H.     Can:— S.R. 
Montana  Junco.     See  Accidental  List. 

Song  Sparrow.     S.R. 

Lincoln's  Sparrow,  LINCOLN'S  FINCH.     T.V.     (Can: — S.R.  ?) 

Swamp  Sparrow.     S.R. 

Fox  Sparrow.     T.V. 

Towhee,  CHEWINK,  GROUND  ROBIN.     S.R. 

Rose-breasted  Grosbeak.     S.R. 

Indigo  Bunting.     S.R.;  chiefly  S. 

Dickcissel,  BLACK-THROATED  BUNTING.     S.R. 

Lark  Bunting,  WHITE- WINGED  BLACKBIRD.     Camp: — S.R. 
Family : — Tanagers. 

Scarlet  Tanager.     S.R. 
Family : — Swallows. 

Purple  Martin.     S.R. 

Cliff  Swallow,  EAVE  SWALLOW.     S.R. 

Barn  Swallow.     S.R. 

Tree  Swallow,  WHITE-BELLIED  SWALLOW.     S.R. 

Bank  Swallow.     S.R. 

Rough-winged  Swallow.     S.R. 
Family : — Waxwings. 

Bohemian  Waxwing,  NORTHERN  WAXWING,  CHATTERER.    W.V. 

Cedar  Waxwing,  CEDARBIRD,  CHERRYBIRD.    S.R.    S: — H.H. 
Family : — Shrikes. 

Northern  Shrike,  BUTCHER-BIRD.     W.V. 

Migrant  Shrike.     S.R. 


20  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

Family :- — Vireos. 

Red-eyed  Vireo.     S.R. 

Philadelphia  Vireo,  Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Warbling  Vireo.     S.R. 

Yellow-throated  Vireo.     S.R. 

Blue-headed  Vireo,  SOLITARY  VIREO.     Can: — S.R.     S: — T.V. 
Family: — Wood  Warblers. 

Black  and  White  Warbler.     S.R. 

Prothonotary  Warbler,  GOLDEN  SWAMP  WARBLER.     Car: — S.R. 

Blue-winged  Warbler.     Car: — S.R. 

Golden-winged  Warbler.     S.R. 

Nashville  Warbler.     S.R. 

Orange-crowned  Warbler.     T.V. 

Tennessee  Warbler.     Can: — S.R.     S: — T.V. 

Northern  Parula  Warbler.     Can: — S.R.     S: — T.V. 

Cape  May  Warbler.     T.V. 

Yellow  Warbler,  SUMMER  YELLOWBIRD.     S.R. 

Black-throated  Blue  Warbler.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Myrtle  Warbler,  YELLOW-RUMPED  WARBLER.    Can: — S.R.    S: — 
T.V. 

Magnolia  Warbler,  BLACK  AND  YELLOW  WARBLER.    Can: — S.R. 
S:— T.V. 

Chestnut-sided  Warbler.     S.R. 

Bay-breasted  Warbler.     T.V. 

Black-poll  Warbler.     T.V. 

Blackburnian  Warbler.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Black-throated  Green  Warbler.     S.R. 

Pine  Warbler.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Palm  Warbler.     Can: — S.R.     S: — T.V. 

Oven-bird,  GOLDEN-CROWNED  THRUSH  OR  ACCENTOR,  TEACHER- 
BIRD.     S.R. 

Grinnell's  Water-Thrush,  SMALL-BILLED  W-T.  or  WATER  WAG- 
TAIL.    Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Louisiana  Water-Thrush,  LARGE-BILLED  W-T.  or  WATER  WAG- 
TAIL.    Car: — S.R. 

Connecticut  Warbler.     Can: — S.R.     S: — T.V. 

Mourning  Warbler.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Maryland  Yellow-throat.     S.R. 

Wilson's   Warbler,    WILSON'S   BLACK-CAPPED    W.      Can: — S.R. 
S:— T.V. 

Canada  Warbler,  NEC KL AGED  W.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 


BIRDS   OCCURRING   REGULARLY 

Redstart.     S.R. 
Family : — Wagtails. 

Pipit,  TITLARK.     T.V. 

Sprague's  Pipit.     Camp: — S.R. 
Family: — Thrashers,  etc. 

Catbird.     S.R. 

Brown  Thrasher,  BROWN  THRUSH.     S.R. 
Family : — Wrens. 

House  Wren.     Two  forms  occur: — 
House  Wren.     S.R. 
Western  House  Wren,  PARKMAN'S  WREN.     S.R. 

Winter  Wren.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Short-billed  Marsh  Wren.     S.R. 

Prairie  Marsh  Wren,  LONG-BILLED  MARSH  WREN.     S.R. 
Family : — Creepers. 

Brown  Creeper.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V.  and  H.  H. 
Family : — Nuthatches. 

White-breasted  Nuthatch.     P.R. 

Red-breasted  Nuthatch.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V.  and  H.H. 
Family : — Titmice. 

Chickadee,  BLACK-CAPPED  CHICKADEE.     P.R. 

Hudsonian  Chickadee.     Can: — P.R. 
Family: — Kinglets,  etc. 

Golden-crowned  Kinglet.      Can:— S.R.      S:— T.V.  and  H.H. 

Ruby-crowned  Kinglet.     T.V. 
Family: — Thrushes,  Robins,  Bluebirds,  etc. 

Wood  Thrush.     Trans:— S.R. 

Willow  Thrush,  VEERY.     S.R. 

Gray-cheeked  Thrush,  ALICE'S  THRUSH.     T.V. 

Olive-backed  Thrush.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Hermit  Thrush.     Can:— S.R.     S:— T.V. 

Robin.     S.R.     S:— few  H.H. 

Bluebird.     S.R. 


A    LIST    OF    BIRDS    THAT   ARE    RARE    OR    ACCI- 
DENTAL  IN    MINNESOTA 

The  species  included  in  this  list  are  wanderers  far  from  their 
normal  habitats  and  so  do  not  belong  properly  to  Minnesota's  bird 
population.  Such  birds  are  probably  for  the  most  part  lost,  storm- 
driven,  or  adventuresome  individuals,  and  their  occurrence  within 
our  territory  is  purely  a  fortuitous  or  casual  matter. 

As  this  list  contains  exceptional  records,  the  scientific  names 
and  exact  data  are  given  in  accordance  with  the  usual  practice 
under  such  circumstances. 

Ancient  Murrelet  (Synthliboramphus  antiquus).  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.:  Lake  Hook,  McLeod  Co.,  Nov.  5,  1905. 

Parasitic  Jaeger  (Stercorarius  parasiticus).  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.:  Heron  Lake,  Jackson  Co.,  Sept.  8,  1916. 

Long-tailed  Jaeger  (Stercorarius  longicaudus} .  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.:  Marshall  Co.,  July  1,  1898. 

Cinnamon  Teal  (Querquedula  cyanoptera).  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.:  Cottonwood  Co.,  Oct.  29,  1888. 

Scoter,  BLACK  SCOTER  (Oidemia  americand).  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.:  Heron  Lake,  Jackson  Co.,  Oct.  5,  1899. 

Surf  Scoter  (Oidemia  perspicillata).  Two  specimens  Sur.  Coll.: 
Belle  Lake,  McLeod  Co.,  Nov.  18,  1900  and  Heron  Lake,  Jack- 
son Co.,  Oct.  1,  1909.  One  or  two  others  reported. 

Greater  Snow  Goose  (Chen  hyperboreus  nivalis).  One  specimen 
Sur.  Coll.:  Otter  Tail  Co.,  fall  of  1892. 

Hutchins's  Goose  (Branta  canadensis  hutchinsi).  No  specimens 
in  Sur.  Coll.,  but  reports  of  its  occurrence  and  capture  in 
various  places  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  are  trust- 
worthy (H.  J.  Jaeger  of  Owatonna). 

Cackling  Goose  (Branta  canadensis  minima).  Two  specimens  in 
Sur.  Coll.,  one  taken  in  McLeod  Co.  and  one  in  Otter  Tail  Co., 
stragglers  from  the  west. 

White-faced  Glossy  Ibis  (Plegadis  guaraund).  Three  Minnesota 
specimens  in  Sur.  Coll.,  one  in  adult  breeding  plumage;  all 
taken  at  Heron  Lake.  Several  others  have  been  taken  and  a 
number  seen  at  various  places  in  southern  Minnesota  as  far 
north  as  Lake  Miltona,  Douglas  Co.;  all  young  birds  in  the 
fall  of  the  year.  Breeding  at  Heron  Lake  in  1894  and  1895 
(Peabody,  Auk  13:79).  A  wanderer  from  the  far  south. 


RARE   OR  ACCIDENTAL   BIRDS  23 

Egret  (Herodias  egretta).  No  specimens.  Dr.  J.  C.  Hvoslef  reports: 
Lanesboro,  Fillmore  Co.  "occasional;  one  stayed  July  21-23, 
1884." 

Little  Brown  Crane  (Grus  canadensis) .  One  specimen  Sur.  Coll.: 
Hennepin  Co.,  Apr.  2,  1894. 

Knot  (Tringa  canutus).  One  specimen  Sur.  Coll.:  Lanesboro,  Fill- 
more  Co.,  Sept.  7,  1885  (Hvoslef). 

Sanderling  (Calidris  leucophaea).  Four  Minn,  specimens  Sur.  Coll. 
One  taken  (two  seen)  June  24,  1916,  Lake  of  the  Woods  (Rob- 
erts). Several  other  reliable  records. 

Piping  Plover  (Aegialitis  meloda).  Only  one  record;  four  seen  and 
studied  at  close  range  on  a  sand  bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rainy 
River,  Lake  of  the  Woods,  July  6,  1915  (Roberts). 

Ruddy  Turnstone  (Arenaria  inter pres  morinella).  Three  Minn. 
specimens  Sur.  Coll.  Several  other  good  records.  One  taken 
Mille  Lacs  Lake,  Mille  Lacs  Co.,  June  22,  1915  (Roberts). 

Willow  Ptarmigan  (Lagopus  lagopus  lagopus).  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.  taken  Apr.  20,  1914,  on  Springsteel  Island,  Lake  of  the 
Woods,  Roseau  Co.,  Minn.,  and  presented  to  the  Museum  by 
Mr.  S.  Withey  of  Crookston.  See  Auk  32:99,  for  record  of  this 
bird  by  Mr.  J.  W.  Franzen.  No  other  Minnesota  specimens 
known  and  other  records  based  on  hearsay. 

Western  Red-tail  (Buteo  borealis  calurus).  This  dark  phase  of  the 
Red-tail  is  represented  in  the  Sur.  Coll.  by  a  single  specimen: 
Hennepin  Co.,  Apr.  6,  1889  (Albert  Lano). 

Harlan's  Hawk  (Buteo  borealis  harlani).  The  southern  melanistic 
phase  of  the  Red-tailed  Hawk  occurs  in  Minnesota  occasion- 
ally. One  specimen  Sur.  Coll.:  Madison,  Lac  qui  Parle  Co., 
Apr.  12,  1893,  Albert  Lano.  (See  Auk  13:342.)  One  taken  near 
Minneapolis,  Dec.  5,  1914,  by  Martin  K.  Bovey. 

Gray  Gyrfalcon  (Falco  rusticolus  rusticolus).  .  An  occasional  win- 
ter visitant.  One  female  specimen  in  Sur.  Coll.  taken  at 
Madison,  Lac  qui  Parle  Co.,  Dec.  11,  1894,  by  Albert  Lano 
(Auk  29:239).  This  specimen  combines  the  heavily  streaked 
head  of  Falco  rusticolus  rusticolus,  the  white  and  heavily 
marked  underparts  of  F.  r.  gyrfalco,  and  the  plain  dark  back 
and  imperfectly  barred  tail  of  F.  r.  obsoletus.  Other  specimens 
have  been  taken  in  the  state  and  reported  under  various  sub- 
specific  names. 


24  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

Prairie  Falcon  (Falco  mexicanus).  Two  specimens  Sur.  Coll.: 
Traverse  Co.,  Sept.  11,  1894,  de  la  Barre  (see  Auk  26:191)  and 
Lac  qui  Parle  Co.,  Sept.  24,  1895,  Albert  Lano. 

Barn  Owl  (Aluco  pratincola).  Two  Minnesota  specimens  in  Sur. 
Coll.:  Hennepin  Co.,  Aug.  8,  1916,  and  .Faribault  Co.,  Oct.  9, 
1917.  There  are  other  reliable  reports  of  this  southern  bird  at 
various  places  in  southern  Minnesota. 

Groove-billed  Ani  (Crotophaga  sulcirostris).  One  of  these  tropi- 
cal birds  strayed  far  up  the  Mississippi  River  to  an  island  nine 
miles  above  Red  Wing,  where  it  was  shot  by  Walter  Ganten- 
bein  of  Diamond  Bluff,  Wisconsin,  on  Oct.  12,  1913,  who 
mounted  it  and  still  retains  it  in  his  possession. 

Red-shafted  Flicker  (C'olaptes  cafer  collaris).  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.:  Big  Island,  Lake  Minnetonka,  Hennepin  Co.,  Apr.  21, 
1911,  Dan  Schmidt.  Also  one  in  Coll.  A.  D.  Brown,  Pipestone, 
Pipestone  Co.,  taken  there  Apr.  15,  1893.  One  seen  at  North- 
field,  Rice  Co.,  Oct.  10,  1916  by  H.  J.  Jaeger. 

Magpie  (Pica  pica  hudsonia).  Two  Minnesota  specimens  Sur.  Coll. 
Several  others  have  been  reported;  all  from  the  western  part 
of  the  state  and  in  winter. 

Clarke's  Nutcracker  (Nucifraga  columbiana).  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.:  Traverse  Co.,  Sept.  12,  1894,  de  la  Barre  (two  seen);  one 
specimen  Coll.  Minn.  Agri.  College,  Otter  Tail  Co.,  Sept.  8, 
1894;  one  specimen  Coll.  A.  D.  Brown,  Pipestone,  Pipestone 
Co.,  Sept.  22,  1894. 

House  Finch  (Carpodacus  mexicanus  frontalis).  One  shot  at  Minne- 
apolis, spring  of  1876.  (See  Cantwell,  Ornith.  and  Ool.  15:134.) 

Hepburn's  Rosy  Finch  (Leucosticte  tephrocotis  littoralis).  One  speci- 
men Sur.  Coll.:  Hennepin  Co.,  Jan.  3,  1889,  F.  W.  Cook.  (See 
Cantwell,  Ornith.  and  Ool.  14:110.) 

Pale  Goldfinch,  WESTERN  GOLDFINCH  (Astragalinus  tristis  pallidus). 
Ridgway,  Bds.  N.  and  M.  A.  pt.  1:112,  1901;  referred  to 
Minnesota  with  a  "?". 

Montana  Junco  (Junco  hyemalis  montanus).  Two  specimens  in 
Sur.  Coll.:  Minneapolis,  Apr.  8,  1876,  R.  S.  Williams;  Minne- 
apolis, Oct.  5,  1877,  T.  S.  Roberts. 

Cardinal,  CARDINAL  GROSBEAK  (Cardinalis  cardinalis  cardinalis). 
One  specimen  Sur.  Coll.:  Minneapolis,  Oct.  23,  1875,  T.  S. 
Roberts.  An  increasing  number  of  reliable  reports,  mostly 
winter.  No  breeding  records  thus  far. 


RARE   OR  ACCIDENTAL   BIRDS  25 

Painted  Bunting  (Passerina  ciris).  One  specimen  Sur.  Coll.:  Madi- 
son, Lac  qui  Parle  Co.,  May  2,  1893,  Albert  Lano  (see  Auk 
29:247). 

Summer  Tanager  (Piranga  rubra  rubra).  One  specimen  Sur.  Coll.: 
Pipestone  Co.,  late  May  1891,  A.  D.  Brown. 

Cerulean  Warbler  (Dendroica  cerulea).  One  specimen  Sur.  Coll.: 
Waconia,  Carver  Co.,  July  16,  1898,  H.  W.  Gleason  (two  seen 
in  company).  Taken  once  at  Lanesboro,  Fillmore  Co.,  May 
5,  1887,  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Hvoslef. 

Kirtland's  Warbler  (Dendroica  kirtlandi).  A  single  record;  a  male 
taken  at  Minneapolis,  May  13,  1892,  by  Dr.  H.  M.  Guilford 
in  whose  collection  the  specimen  is  still  preserved  (see  Auk 
10:86). 

Yellow-breasted  Chat  (Icteria  virens  virens).  One  Minnesota  speci- 
men Sur.  Coll.:  Heron  Lake,  Jackson  Co.,  May  28,  1890,  Thom- 
as Miller.  There  are  several  more  or  less  reliable  published 
records  and  hearsay  reports  of  the  Chat  in  the  state,  but  it  is 
apparently  only  a  very  exceptional  straggler  into  the  extreme 
southern  part  of  our  territory. 

Pileolated  Warbler  (Wilsonia  pusilla  pileolata).  See  Ridgway, 
Bds.  N.  and  M.  A.  pt.  2:712,  1902.  Record  based  on  speci- 
mens in  collection  of  National  Museum  taken  in  May  at  Fort 
Snelling  by  Dr.  Edgar  A.  Mearns.  These  two  specimens  may 
be  only  aberrant  individuals  of  the  eastern  form. 

Mockingbird  (Mimus  polyglottos  polyglottos}.  One  specimen  Sur. 
Coll.:  Waconia,  Carver  Co.,  May  19,  1898,  H.  W.  Gleason. 

Tufted  Titmouse  (Baeolophus  bicolor).  There  are  no  Minnesota 
specimens  in  Sur.  Coll.  but  there  are  several  reliable  reports. 
Fairmount,  Martin  Co.,  winter  of  1915-16,  Dr.  G.  H.  Luedtke 
(photographs  at  feeding  station);  Luverne,  Rock  Co.,  winter 
of  1914-15,  Mrs.  E.  A.  Brown;  Minneapolis,  winter  of  1916-17, 
Mrs.  L.  E.  Horton  and  Mrs.  J.  F.  Hayden;  Minneapolis, 
March  16,  1919,  Mrs.  Marshall  Mclntire.  These  were  all 
single  birds,  seen,  except  in  the  last  instance,  in  company 
with  Black-capped  Chickadees.  No  summer  records  thus  far. 

Long-tailed  Chickadee  (Penthestes  atricapillus  septentrionalis) .  See 
Ridgway,  Bds.  N.  and  M.  A.  pt.  3:400,  1904.  This  form  of  the 
species  is  here  recorded  with  a  "  ?"  from  the  western  border  of 
Minnesota,  but  all  the  specimens  in  the  Sur.  Coll.  from  that 
region  seem  to  belong  to  the  eastern  form. 


26 


THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 


Blue-gray  Gnatcatcher  (Polioptila  caerulea  caerulea).     One  specimen 

Sur.  Coll.:  Minneapolis,  May  19,  1877,  R.  S.  Williams  (see  Bull. 

Nutt.  Ornith.  Club  4:182).     One  specimen  in  collection  of  H.  J. 

Jaeger   of   Owatonna   taken  in    Murray"  Co.,   Apr.    18,    1900. 

Breeding  records  for  Carver  Co.   (see  Mitchell,  Auk   12:185) 

not  verified. 
Townsend's  Solitaire  (Myadestes  townsendi).     One  specimen   Sur, 

Coll.:      Fairmount,    Martin   Co.,    Nov.   30,    1916,    Dr.    G.    H. 

Luedtke.     There  is  also  a  specimen  in  the  collection  of  St. 

John's  College,  Collegeville,  Stearns  Co.,  taken  in  that  vicinity 

Dec.  20,  1909,  Rev.  Severn  Gertkin  (see  Auk  33:327). 


Young  White-throated  Sparrows 


INTRODUCED    SPECIES 

Ring-necked  Pheasant.     P.R. 

This  bird,  sometimes  called  the  Chinese  Pheasant,  has 
been  liberated  in  various  places  in  the  state  during  the  last 
fifteen  or  twenty  years.  It  is  probable  that  a  certain  number 
of  English  Pheasants,  from  eastern  stock,  have  been  mingled 
with  them.  Of  late  years  they  have  been  set  free  in  greatly 
increased  numbers  and  they  are  apparently  becoming  accli- 
mated and  doing  fairly  well  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state, 
especially  where  assistance  is  rendered  during  severe  winters 
by  supplementing  their  food  supply. 
House  Sparrow,  ENGLISH  SPARROW.  P.R. 

Introduced  between  1870  and  1880  and  now  abundant 
everywhere  throughout  the  state,  in  the  country  as  well  as 
in  the  cities  and  towns. 


Franklin's  Gull  Chicks 


UNSETTLED    SPECIES 

The  usually  assigned  range  of  the  following  birds  includes 
Minnesota  and  there  are  one  or  more  state  records  for  each,  but 
thus  far  the  testimony  is  not  conclusive. 

Red-throated  Loon.  No  Minnesota  specimen  Sur.  Coll.  and  none 
known  elsewhere.  Records  chiefly  from  Lake  Superior  in 
winter  and  unsupported  by  conclusive  evidence. 

Barrows's  Golden-eye  Duck.  No  specimens  thus  far  to  support 
the  various  Minnesota  records.  To  be  looked  for  as  a  winter 
visitant. 

Hudsonian  Curlew.  Dr.  Hatch  barely  mentions  this  maritime  spe- 
cies in  his  list  of  1880  but,  on  second  thought,  accords  it 
more  extended  notice  in  his  "Notes"  of  1892;  and  Cantwell 
includes  it  second-hand  in  his  list  of  1890.  W.  W.  Cooke  in 
Bird  Migration  Mississippi  Valley,  1884-5  gives  a  record  from 
Heron  Lake  by  Thomas  Miller,  "May  1,  1884."  As  there 
are  no  Minnesota  specimens  known,  and  as  there  is  reason- 
able doubt  as  to  the  reliability  of  these  records,  further  in- 
formation in  regard  to  its  occurrence  is  needed. 

Red-shouldered  Hawk.  No  Minnesota  specimen  seen.  A  southern 
species  which  has  several  times  been  credited  to  the  state,  but 
the  evidence  is  still  incomplete. 


Young  Migrant  Shrikes 


EXTIRPATED    SPECIES 

The  birds  listed  here  were  found  in  Minnesota  in  years  past 
but  now  are  entirely  absent. 

Trumpeter  Swan.     Formerly  S.R.     Apparently  extinct  everywhere. 

Avocet.     Formerly  S.R. 

Long-billed  Curlew.  Once  a  common  S.R.  on  the  prairies;  dis- 
appeared about  25  or  30  years  ago. 

Eskimo  Curlew.  Formerly  an  abundant  T.V.  Now  nearly  extinct 
everywhere. 

Wild  Turkey.  In  June,  1893,  Dr.  Wm.  C.  Portmann  of  Jackson, 
Jackson  Co.,  Minn.,  related  to  the  writer  the  following  in 
regard  to  this  bird:  About  thirty  years  ago,  a  farmer  named 
Stone  killed  four  Wild  Turkeys  from  a  flock  of  about  thirty 
that  lived  in  a  piece  of  heavy  timber  in  a  bend  of  the  Des 
Moines  River  just  at  the  Iowa- Minnesota  line.  The  farmer 
himself  told  Dr.  Portmann  of  the  occurrence.  Another  old 
resident  of  Jackson  corroborated  the  statement. 

Still  more  ancient,  traditional  lore  would  have  the  Wild 
Turkey  a  denizen  of  the  deep  and  heavily  wooded  valleys  of 
southeastern  Minnesota  in  bygone  times.  The  writings  of  the 
earlier  travellers  into  this  region  are  silent  in  regard  to  the 
Turkey,  which  seemingly  would  have  elicited  comment  had 
it  been  in  evidence  along  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi. 

Passenger  Pigeon.  Formerly  an  abundant  S.R.  Rapidly  dimin- 
ished in  numbers  between  the  years  1878  and  1885,  finally 
disappearing  entirely  between  1890  and  1900.  It  is  now 
extinct  everywhere.  All  other  theories  to  the  contrary,  the 
extermination  of  this  bird  was  the  result  of  ruthless  and  whole- 
sale destruction  by  man. 


Young  Baltimore  Oriole 


VANISHING   BIRDS 

The  student  of  Minnesota  ornithology  to-day  has  presented 
to  him  conditions  differing  greatly  from  those  that  existed  forty 
or  fifty  years  ago,  when  the  first  formal  work  on  the  birds  of  the 
state  began.  Birds  as  a  whole,  have,  during  that  interval,  under- 
gone a  very  great  diminution  in  numbers.  Some  species,  formerly 
abundant,  are  now  represented  by  a  mere  remnant,  while  a  few 
have  disappeared  entirely.  This  is  especially  true  of  the  birds 
known  as  Game  Birds,  but  many  others  have  not  been  able  to 
hold  their  own  against  destructive  agencies  or  to  adapt  themselves 
to  greatly  altered  conditions.  A  very  few,  mostly  the  smaller  insec- 
tivorous species  to  which  the  presence  of  man  is  not  specially 
inimical,  have  maintained  their  former  abundance  or  even  increased 
in  numbers. 

The  essential  underlying  cause,  direct  and  indirect,  of  this 
gradual  disappearance  of  our  birds  is,  plainly  enough,  the  increas- 
ing presence  of  man  himself.  Some  birds  are  so  constituted  by 
nature  that  their  retreat  before  advancing  civilization  must  be 
inevitable,  no  matter  what  degree  of  protection  is  afforded  them. 
With  a  much  larger  number  the  conditions  necessary  for  their 
existence  are  destroyed  by  the  activities  of  man.  The  prairies  are 
plowed  up,  the  forests  are  cut  down,  the  undergrowth  cleared 
away,  lakes  and  marshes  drained,  and  thus  the  nesting  places,, 
feeding  grounds,  and  shelters  are  appropriated  by  man.  Hunting, 
especially  in  the  earlier  years  when  laws  were  lax,  has  been 
most  destructive  of  game  birds;  and  always,  early  and  late,  many 
birds  of  many  kinds  have  been  killed  through  sheer  wantonness. 
With  man  came  the  domestic  cat,  and  in  its  vast  increase  it  has 
become  a  most  destructive  agent  of  our  wild  birds. 

But  a  great  awakening  and  intelligent  understanding  has  come 
of  late  years,  and  with  the  better  law  enforcement  and  wide-spread 
interest  in  all  wild  things  that  now  prevail,  there  is  good  promise 
that  the  waste  of  our  bird-life  may  be  effectively  checked  and  that 
conditions  resembling,  in  some  degree  at  least,  those  of  former 
days  may  be  restored. 

In  addition  to  those  birds  that  have  disappeared  entirely,  the 
following  species  seem  to  have  suffered  most  markedly: 

Loon.     Still  fairly  common  during  migrations  and  in  some  remote 
regions,  but  much  less  in  evidence  than  formerly. 


VANISHING  BIRDS  ^\  31 

White  Pelican.  Formerly  bred  commonly  all  over  the  state. 
Now  only  a  transient. 

Wood  Duck.  Once  abundant.  Scarce  of  late  years  but  appar- 
ently reappearing  again  in  some  favorable  localities. 

Redhead  Duck. 

Canvas-back  Duck.  These  two  ducks  once  bred  abundantly  all 
over  the  state;  now  only  sparingly.  Ducks  in  general  have 
been  greatly  reduced  in  numbers,  especially  as  summer  resi- 
dents; but  the  operation  of  the  Federal  Migratory  Bird  Law 
appears  to  have  already  brought  about  some  improvement 
and  much  more  is  confidently  hoped  from  the  Migratory  Bird 
Treaty  Act  now  in  force. 

Canada  Goose.  Once  a  common  summer  resident  throughout  the 
state;  now  rarely  if  ever  nesting  here. 

Whooping  Crane.  Formerly  a  common  summer  resident  and 
,-•:  nesting  throughout  the  prairie  regions  of  the  state.  It 
gradually  disappeared  until  for  some  years  past  it  has  oc- 
curred only  as  an  exceedingly  rare  transient  visitant.  The 
last  record  is  of  two  seen  together  in  the  vicinity  of  Badger, 
Roseau  County,  on  April  23,  1917.  One  of  them  was  shot 
and  brought  for  mounting  to  Mr.  P.  O.  Frykland,  of  Badger, 
from  whom  this  information  was  obtained. 

Sandhill  Crane.  Formerly  a  common  summer  resident;  now  only 
a  transient  in  limited  numbers. 

Wilson's  Phalarope.  Once  an  abundant  nesting  bird  all  over  the 
state;  now  scarce. 

Woodcock.     Once  fairly  common  in  some -localities ;  now  scarce. 

Marbled  Godwit.  The  thousands  that  once  nested  on  our  western 
prairies  are  now  only  a  memory;  a  few  scattered  pairs  remain. 

Western  Willet.  Rare  now  as  a  breeding  bird;  once  common  on 
the  prairies. 

Greater  Yellow-legs.     Once  a  common  migrant;  now  infrequent. 

Upland  Plover.  The  numberless  thousands  that  once  made  Min- 
nesota their  summer  home  are  now  reduced  to  a  pitiable 
remnant. 

Black-bellied  Plover.     Rarely  encountered  of  late. 

Golden  Plover.  Forty  or  fifty  years  ago  this  bird,  often  called 
the  "Prairie  Pigeon,"  migrated  through  Minnesota  in  immense 
numbers.  It  flew  in  dense  flocks  in  open  country,  was  easily 
decoyed,  and  so  was  a  ready  prey  for  the  uncontrolled  hunters 
of  those  days.  Its  flesh  was  excellent  eating  and  much  sought 


32  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

after.  The  vast  quantities  that  were  killed  during  its  spring 
movement  through  the  United  States  was  responsible  for  its 
almost  total  disappearance. 

Canada  Spruce  Partridge.  In  former  years  a  common  bird  in  the 
evergreen  forests  of  the  state,  but  it  has  steadily  disappeared 
until  now  but  a  few  are  left. 

Ruffed  Grouse.  Abundant  formerly  in  all  woodlands;  now,  at  the 
best,  it  is  nowhere  numerous. 

Prairie  Chicken.  Steadily  disappearing.  Over  large  areas  where 
it  was  formerly  abundant  its  extinction  is  almost  complete. 
Refuges  and  restocking  may  perhaps  still  save  it  to  a  limited 
extent. 

Prairie  Sharp-tailed  Grouse.  Same  as  last  species.  While  unques- 
tionably the  merciless  hunting  of  former  years  has  been  the 
chief  cause  of  the  extermination  of  the  Prairie  Chickens,  other 
agencies  for  which  mankind  is  less  to  blame  have  played  a, 
minor  part. 

Swallow-tailed  Kite.  The  seemingly  almost  complete  disappear- 
ance of  this  beautiful  and  once  frequent  bird  is  difficult  to 
understand. 

Golden  Eagle. 

Bald  Eagle.  The  Eagles  are  steadily  disappearing.  The  Golden 
Eagle  was  never  common,  but  the  Bald  Eagle  nested  through- 
out the  state.  A  few  pairs  still  make  their  homes  in  remote 
places. 

Northern  Pileated  Woodpecker.  Formerly  frequent  in  all  big  tim- 
ber, it  has  become  uncommon,  chiefly  because  it  was  a  con- 
spicuous mark  for  the  thoughtless  man  with  a  gun.  In  pro- 
tected areas,  like  Itasca  Park,  it  has  multiplied  in  recent 
years,  and  become  a  familiar  and  almost  common  bird. 

Whip-poor-will.  While  still  locally  common,  it  has  almost  or 
entirely  disappeared  from  considerable  areas  where  it  was 
formerly  numerous. 

Horned  Lark.  This  once  everywhere  abundant  bird  is  for  some 
unknown  reason  gradually  becoming  less  numerous. 

Blue  Jay.     Jays  are  markedly  less  in  evidence  than  formerly. 

Northern  Raven.  Forty  years  ago  fairly  common  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  state,  but  now  rarely  seen.  Crows  on  the  other 
hand,  have,  in  that  time,  increased  enormously  and  have  be- 
come a  serious  pest  throughout  the  entire  state. 


VANISHING   BIRDS 


33 


Snow  Bunting.     The  vast  flocks  that  formerly  passed  the  winter 

in  southern  Minnesota  are  no  longer  seen. 
Lapland    Longspur.     The    same    apparent    absence    of    the    great 

migrating  and  wintering  flocks  of  this  bird  as  observed  in  the 

case  of  the  Snow  Bunting. 
Cliff  Swallow,  EAVE  SWALLOW.     Has   entirely   disappeared   from 

regions  where  it  was  once  one  of  the  commonest  of  the  swallows. 


Great  Horned  Owl 
Photograph  of  bird  mounted  by  Jenness  Richardson 


HYPOTHETICAL  LIST 

The  birds  included  in  this  list  have  been  recorded  from  the 
state  one  or  more  times,  but  so  far  as  is  known  there  are  no  Minne- 
sota specimens  in  existence  and  the  observations  upon  which  the 
reports  have  been  based  are  not  satisfactory  or  conclusive.  Through 
general  acceptance  and  wide  quotation  of  the  original  records,  some 
of  these  birds  have  become  well  established  in  literature  as  belong- 
ing to  Minnesota,  when  in  reality  there  is  no  good  ground  for  so 
considering  them.  Such  for  example  is  the  case  with  the  Least 
Tern,  Brant,  White-eyed  Vireo,  Bell's  Vireo,  and  Bewick's  Wren. 
These  unsupported  records  have  been  due  in  some  instances  to  the 
efforts  of  perfectly  honest  but  imperfectly  informed  persons,  in 
other  instances  to  too  credulous  acceptance  of  hearsay,  to  the  care- 
less confusion  of  names,  or  apparently  to  poor  guessing. 

The  original  authority  for  the  Minnesota  record  is  given  in 
each  case,  followed  occasionally  by  a  reference  to  a  later  and  fuller 
record.  With  some  species  there  are  many  records,  chiefly  through 
quotations,  but  it  does  not  seem  necessary  to  refer  to  these  here. 

Black-throated  Loon.     Hatch,  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 

Kittiwake  Gull.     Hatch,   Bull.    Minn.   Acad.   Nat.   Sci.  1874;  and 

Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Laughing  Gull.     Hatch,   Bull.    Minn.   Acad.    Nat.   Sci.   1874;  and 

Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Least  Tern.     Hatch,  Bull.  Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn.  1881;  and 

Notes  Bds.   Minn.  1892. 

Cormorant  (P.  carbo).    Hatch,  Bull.  Minn.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  1874. 
Brown  Pelican.     Hatch,  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Harlequin  Duck.     Hatch,  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
King  Eider.     Hatch,  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
White-cheeked  Goose.     Peabody,  Nidiologist  2,  1895. 
Brant.     Head,  Ninth  Ann.  Rep.  Smith.  Inst.  1855.     Hatch,  Notes 

Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Black  Brant.     Hatch,  Bull.  Minn.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  1874;  and  Notes 

Bds.  Minn.  1892. 

Glossy  Ibis  (P.  autumnalis).    Barrows,  Mich.  Bird  Life  1912. 
Snowy  Egret.     Hatch,  Bull.  Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn.  1881;  and 

Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 

Yellow-crowned  Night  Heron.     Hatch,  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Black  Rail.     Hatch,  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 


HYPOTHETICAL  LIST  35 

Purple  Gallinule.     Wis.  Nat.,  1,  1891. 

Red  Phalarope.     Hatch,  Bull.  Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn.  1881; 

and  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Black-necked  Stilt.     Hatch,  Bull.  Minn.  A  cad.  Nat.  Sci.  1874;  and 

Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Dowitcher  (M.  g.  griseus).     Hatch,  Bull.    Minn.  Acad.   Nat.  Sci. 

1874.    Anderson,  Birds  Iowa  1907. 

Black  Vulture.     Brackett,  Jour.  Boston  Zool.  Soc.  1884. 
Mississippi  Kite.     Brackett,  Jour.  Boston  Zool.  Soc.  1884. 
Richardson's  Pigeon  Hawk.     Hatch,  Bull.  Minn.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci. 

1876;  and  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 

Western  Wood  Pewee.     Hatch,  Bull.  Minn.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  1874. 
Acadian  Flycatcher.     Hatch,  Bull.  Minn.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  1874. 
Fish  Crow.     Hatch,  Bull.  Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Sur.   Minn.  1881;  and 

Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Western  Vesper  Sparrow.     Roberts  and  Benner,  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith. 

Club.  1880. 
Northern  Violet-green  Swallow.     Hatch,  Bull.  Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Sur. 

Minn.  1881. 
White-eyed  Vireo.     Trippe,   Com.  Ess.  Inst.  1871.     Hatch,   Notes 

Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Bell's  Vireo.     Hatch,  Bull.  Minn.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  1874;  and  Notes 

Bds.  Minn.  1892. 

Worm-eating  Warbler.     Cant  well,  Ornith.  and  Ool.  1890. 
Sycamore  Warbler.     Currier,  Auk,  1904. 

Kentucky  Warbler.     Cooke,  Dist.  and  Migr.  N.  A.  Warblers,  1904. 
Hooded  Warbler.     Cantwell,  Ornith.  and  Ool.  1890.     Hatch,  Notes 

Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Carolina  Wren.     Pratten,   Owens  Geol.  Sur.    Wis.,  la.  and  Minn. 

1852.     Hatch,  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Bewick's  Wren.     Trippe,  Com.  Ess.  Inst.  1871.    Hatch,  Notes  Bds. 

Minn.  1892. 

Western  Robin.     Hatch,  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 
Western  Bluebird.     Hatch,  Bull.  Geol.  Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn.  1881; 

and  Notes  Bds.  Minn.  1892. 


MINNESOTA    BIRD    LAWS 

The  section  of  the  Minnesota  Game  Laws  for  1917-1918  that 
deals  with  the  general  protection  of  our  wild  bird-life  and  defines 
what  is  meant  by  Game  Birds  is  as  follows: 

"Harmless  Birds — Game  Birds  Defined.  No  person  shall  catch,  take,  kill, 
ship  or  cause  to  be  shipped  to  any  person  within  or  without  the  state,  purchase, 
offer  or  expose  for  sale,  sell  to  any  one,  have  in  possession  with  intent  to  sell,  or  have 
in  possession  or  under  control  at  any  time,  living  or  dead,  any  wild  bird  other  than 
a  game  bird,  nor  any  part  thereof,  and  for  the  purposes  of  this  chapter  the  following 
only  shall  be  considered  game  birds: 

"The  family  Anatidae,  commonly  known  as  swan,  geese,  brant,  river  and  sea 
ducks;  the  family  Rallidae,  including  rails,  gallinules  and  coots;  the  order  Limicolae, 
commonly  known  as  plove,  snipe  and  woodcock;  the  order  Gallinae,  commonly 
known  as  grouse,  prairie  chickens,  pheasants,  partridges  and  quail;  the  order  Colum- 
bae,  or  pigeons  and  doves;  provided  that  blackbirds,  crows,  English  sparrows, 
sharp-shinned  hawks,  goshawks  and  Cooper  hawks  and  great  horned  owls  may  be 
killed  and  had  in  possession  at  any  time;  and  provided  further  that  any  birds  may 
be  killed  or  destroyed  under  authority  of  the  Game  and  Fish  Commissioner  when 
they  are  found  to  be  destroying  or  injuring  game  birds  on  state  game  farms  or  state 
game  refuges,  or  destroying  or  injuring  fish  in  state  fish  hatcheries;  but  nothing 
herein  contained  shall  be  construed  to  prevent  the  keeping  and  sale  of  song  birds 
as  domestic  pets." 

The  following  provisions,  establishing  special  closed  seasons, 
are  incorporated  in  the  Game  Laws  of  1917-1918: 

"No  mourning  dove,  snipe  (other  than  Wilson  or  jack  snipe  and  greater  and 
lesser  yellow-legs),  woodcock,  upland  plover  or  golden  plover  shall  be  taken,  killed 
or  had  in  possession  before  September  16,  1920."  "No  partridge  or  ruffed  grouse, 
or  Chinese,  ringneck  or  English  pheasant  shall  be  killed  or  had  in  possession  before 
the  fifteenth  (15th)  day  of  October,  1920."  "No  wood  duck  shall  be  taken,  killed 
or  had  in  possession  before  September  16,  1920." 

The  following  provision  is  made  for  the  protection  of  the 
nests  and  eggs  of  our  wild  birds: 

"Nests  and  Eggs — No  person  shall  at  any  time  take  or  have  in  possession  or 
under  control,  break  up  or  destroy  or  in  any  manner  interfere  with  any  nest,  or  the 
eggs  of  any  of  the  kinds  of  birds,  the  killing  of  which  is  at  any  or  all  times  prohibited." 

Permission  to  collect  for  scientific  purposes  may  be  granted 
under  the  following  conditions: 

Paragraph  4771.  *  *  *  *  "and  may  also  grant  permission  under  the  seal 
of  said  Commissioner,  to  any  accredited  representative  of  any  incorporated  society 
of  natural  history,  college  or  university,  to  collect  for  scientific  purposes  only,  nests, 
eggs,  birds,  animals  or  fish  protected  by  law,  and  may  also  grant  permission  under 


MINNESOTA    BIRD  LAWS  31 

seal  to  any  municipal  corporation  maintaining  an  established  zoological  collection 
under  proper  care,  to  procure  specimens  of  animals  or  birds  protected  by  law,  for 
such  zoological  collection." 

To  meet  the  requirements  of  the  new  Migratory  Bird  Treaty 
Act  with  Great  Britain,  it  is  now  necessary  to  obtain  an  additional 
permit  from  the  Secretary  of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture, 
if  it  is  desired  to  collect  birds,  nests,  or  eggs  protected  by  that  Act. 


Young  Tree  Swallows  and  nesting  hole 


THE  FEDERAL  MIGRATORY  BIRD  LAW  AND 
THE  MIGRATORY  BIRD  TREATY  ACT 

What  has  been  commonly  known  as  the  Migratory  Bird  Law 
was  an  enactment  of  the  U.  S.  Congress.  After  stating  the  now 
legally  established  principle  that  birds  that  regularly  migrate 
beyond  state  limits  are  the  property  of  the  United  States,  this 
law  places  such  birds  under  the  protection  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. The  act  was  approved  by  President  Wilson  and  became  a 
law  on  March  4,  1913.  Later  an  agreement  in  the  form  of  a  treaty 
was  proposed  with  Great  Britain,  which  had  for  its  object  securing 
the  cooperation  of  Canada,  thus  insuring  the  easier  and  more 
complete  operation  of  this  bird  legislation  on  a  large  scale.  This 
treaty  was  finally  accepted  and  ratified  by  all  parties  concerned, 
being  concluded  at  Washington,  August  16,  1916,  approved  July 
3,  1918,  and  made  effective  July  31,  1918,  by  proclamation  of  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  which  brought  to  full  fruition  a 
quarter-century  struggle  in  behalf  of  our  birds  and  mankind  by 
many  tireless  workers.  This  treaty  or  convention  with  Great 
Britain  is  to  be  known  as  the  "Migratory  Bird  Treaty  Act." 

As  showing  just  what  are  considered  migratory  birds  under 
the  terms  of  this  Act,  the  following  extract  will  be  of  interest  to 
Minnesota  bird  students: 

"REGULATION  1. — DEFINITIONS  OF  MIGRATORY  BIRDS 

Migratory  birds,  included  in  the  terms  of  the  convention  between  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  for  the  protection  of  migratory  birds,  concluded  August 
16,  1916,  are  as  follows: 

1.  Migratory  game  birds: 

(a)   Anatidae,  or  waterfowl,  including  brant,  wild  ducks,  geese,  and  swans. 
(6)   Gruidae,  or  cranes,  including  little  brown,  sandhill,  and  whooping  cranes. 

(c)  Rallidae,  or  rails,  including  coots,  gallinules,  and  sora  and  other  rails. 

(d)  Limicolae,  or  shorebirds,  including   avocets,    curlews,    dowitchers,    god- 
wits,  knots,  oyster  catchers,  phalaropes,  plovers,  sandpipers,  snipe,  stilts,  surf  birds, 
turnstones,  willet,  woodcock,  and  yellowlegs. 

(e)  Columbidae,  or  pigeons,  including  doves  and  wild  pigeons. 

2.  Migratory  insectivorous  birds:     Bobolinks,  catbirds,  chickadees,  cuckoos, 
nickers,   flycatchers,    grosbeaks,   hummingbirds,   kinglets,    martins,    meadowlarks, 
nighthawks  or  bull-bats,  nuthatches,  orioles,  robins,  shrikes,  swallows,  swifts,  tana- 
gers,  titmice,  thrushes,  vireos,  warblers,  waxwings,  whip-poor-wills,  woodpeckers, 
and  wrens,  and  all  other  perching  birds  which  feed  entirely  or  chiefly  on  insects. 

3.  Other  migratory  nongame  birds:     Auks,  auklets,  bitterns,  fulmars,  gannets, 
grebes,  guillemots,  gulls,  herons,  jaegers,  loons,  murres,  petrels,  puffins,  shearwaters, 
and  terns." 


FEDERAL   BIRD   LAWS 


Provision  is  made  for  the  protection  of  property  from  damage 
that  may  be  done  by  protected  species  under  certain  conditions 
by  the  following  regulation: 

"REGULATION  10. — PERMITS  TO  KILL  MIGRATORY  BIRDS  INJURIOUS  TO  PROPERTY 

When  information  is  furnished  the  Secretary  that  any  species  of  migratory 
bird  has  become,  under  extraordinary  conditions,  seriously  injurious  to  agriculture 
or  other  interests  in  any  particular  community,  an  investigation  will  be  made  to 
determine  the  nature  and  extent  of  the  injury,  whether  the  birds  alleged  to  be  do- 
ing the  damage  should  be  killed,  and,  if  so,  during  what  times  and  by  what  means. 
Upon  his  determination  an  appropriate  order  will  be  made." 

This  migratory  bird  legislation  is  operative  through  the  now 
legally  established  principle  that  birds  that  regularly  migrate 
beyond  state  limits  are  the  property  of  the  United  States  and 
thus  come  under  the  protection  of  the  Federal  Government.  Non- 
migratory  birds  are  the  property  of  the  state  in  which  they  live 
and  state  legislation  alone  deals  with  them.  Where  state  and 
federal  laws  conflict,  the  latter  take  precedence. 


Young  Bluebirds 


WILD-LIFE    REFUGES    IN    MINNESOTA 

As  an  important  factor  in  the  present  nation-wide  effort  to 
check  the  decrease  in  wild  animal  life  that  has  been  going  on  so 
rapidly  in  recent  years,  it  has  been  found  expedient  to  set  aside 
selected  areas  of  land  and  water  of  variable  extent,  within  the 
confines  of  which  it  is  unlawful  to  destroy  or  molest  desirable 
wild  creatures.  These  tracts  are  called  Refuges  and  are  intended 
to  be  resting  and  feeding  places  for  migrants  or  peaceful  havens 
wherein  wild  things  may  live,  make  their  homes,  and  multiply, 
free  from  persecution.  The  Federal  Government,  the  National 
Association  of  Audubon  Societies,  the  Canadian  Government,  and 
most  of  the  states  of  the  Union  have  taken  an  active  part  in  this 
work  and  the  combined  areas  that  have  in  this  way  been  con- 
secrated to  the  use  of  the  wild  birds  and  other  animals  of  North 
America  make  a  grand  total  of  many  thousands  of  square  miles. 
The  beneficial  results  are  already  very  great,  especially  in  con- 
serving the  water  birds  along  the  sea  coasts  and  the  big  game 
animals  in  the  interior. 

Minnesota  has  been  doing  her  part  along  this  line  and  much 
wise  and  productive  legislation  has  been  enacted.  Wild-life  refuges, 
or  game  refuges  as  they  are  more  commonly  called,  are  of  two 
kinds  in  Minnesota,  according  to  the  degree  of  protection  afforded. 
First,  those  within  which  it  is  forbidden  to  take  or  kill  any  mammal 
or  bird  of  any  kind  at  any  time  or  to  carry  firearms  with  intent 
to  kill.  Such  a  refuge  is  a  real  nature  sanctuary  if  the  law  be 
enforced.  Itasca  State  Park,  with  its  increasing  wealth  of  wild 
animal  life,  is  an  instructive  example  of  an  ideal  refuge  of  this  kind. 
Second,  those  within  which  it  is  forbidden  to  take  or  kill  any 
mammal  or  bird  protected  by  law  at  any  time:  that  is  there  is  no 
open  season  for  any  game  mammal  or  bird  within  such  a  refuge, 
but  the  law  does  not  prevent  the  hunting  of  unprotected  species. 

In  the  first  class  are  included  all  state  Public  Parks  with 
an  encircling  area  one-half  mile  wide;  all  refuges  that  may  be 
established  by  the  Game  and  Fish  Commissioner  in  accordance 
with  a  state  law  where  all  the  land  owners  therein  have  petitioned 
for  such  action;  refuges  on  government  land  designated  as  such 
by  the  Federal  Government;  and  a  belt  three  miles  wide  immedi- 
ately outside  of  the  limits  and  completely  encircling  cities  of  fifty 
thousand  or  more  population.  Cities  and  towns  and  included 


WILD-LIFE   REFUGES  41 

public  parks  where  ordinances  prohibiting  the  use  of  firearms 
exist  and  are  enforced  may  also  be  included  in  this  class. 

In  the  second  class  are  included  all  State  Forest  Reservations; 
and  refuges  established  by  the  Game  and  Fish  Commissioner  in 
accordance  with  a  state  law  where  only  a  part  of  the  land  owners 
therein  have  petitioned  for  such  action.  Refuges  of  this  latter 
kind  can  not  be  less  than  640  acres  in  extent.  Within  refuges  of 
this  class  unprotected  mammals  and  outlawed  birds  can  be  hunted 
and  killed  at  any  time,  which  permits  of  more  or  less  shooting 
and  disturbance,  so  that,  even  if  protected  species  are  not  occa- 
sionally surreptitiously  killed,  freedom  from  annoyance  is  not 
complete.  However,  such  protection  is  far  better  than  none  and 
thorough  policing  will  greatly  reduce  the  possible  evils. 

Numerous  private  refuges,  consisting  of  the  estates  of  one  or 
more  individuals  have  been  voluntarily  formed.  These  are  pro- 
tected by  the  usual  laws  relating  to  trespass  after  proper  warning 
signs  have  been  posted. 

On  January  1,  1916,  there  was  established  a  farm  for  breeding 
game  birds  on  Big  Island,  Lake  Minnetonka,  by  the  Minneapolis 
Branch  of  the  Minnesota  Game  Protective  League.  The  Twin 
City  Rapid  Transit  Company  generously  donated  the  use  of  the 
island  and  the  services  of  a  keeper.  The  enterprise  was  conducted 
by  the  League  and  financed  by  contributions  from  its  members, 
until,  on  May  1,  1917,  it  was  taken  over  entirely  by  the  State 
Game  and  Fish  Commission.  This  game  farm  is  now,  therefore, 
a  state  activity  as  it  rightly  should  be  and  after  the  good  begin- 
ning made,  and  the  hard  work  done  by  the  League  it  is  hoped  that 
the  state  will  adequately  support  and  expand  it,  as  in  its  success 
lies  very  largely  the  possibility  of  restocking  the  depleted  coverts 
and  waters  of  the  state  with  valuable  game  birds. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Carlos  Avery,  Commissioner  of 
Game  and  Fish,  I  am  able  to  present  the  following  list  of  Minne- 
sota Game  Refuges  with  the  approximate  area  of  each,  complete 
to  January  1,  1919.  This  list  shows  that  there  are  in  the  state 
at  present  -thirty-three  Refuges  and  one  Federal  Bird  Reserve. 
The  latter  is  a  tiny  rocky  islet,  known  as  Spirit  Island,  situated 
in  the  southern  end  of  Lake  Mille  Lacs.  It  is  the  nesting  place 
of  a  colony  of  Common  Terns  (called  locally  "gulls")  and  a  con- 
siderable number  of  Purple  Martins,  to  protect  which  the  island 
was  set  aside  by  the  United  States  Government  as  a  Bird  Reserve. 


42 


THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 


Another  similar  island  in  Lake  Mille  Lacs,  called  Hennepin  Island , 
is  equally  entitled  to  such  distinction  for  exactly  the  same  reasons. 

The  eight  Refuges  listed  as  State  Parks  are,  under  the  lawr 
absolute  wild-life  sanctuaries  as  are  also  four  of  the  other  Refuges, 
as  they  were  established  by  the  Game  arid  Fish  Commissioner  on 
petitions  from  all  of  the  land  owners  therein.  These  four  are  the 
Ramsey  County,  St.  Croix  River,  Martin  County,  and  Morrison 
County  Refuges. 

The  remaining  Refuges  and  the  State  Forests  afford  uninter- 
rupted protection  for  all  game  animals  as  there  are  no  open  seasons 
within  their  limits,  but  there  are  no  restrictions  upon  hunting  and 
killing  unprotected  mammals  and  birds. 

The  total  area  of  land  in  the  state  of  Minnesota  that  has 
been  set  aside  for  the  conservation  of  its  wild-life  resources  reaches 
already  the  considerable  figure  of  1,941,413  acres.  This  is  approxi- 
mately 3.6  per  cent  of  the  .state  and  if  gathered  together  in  a 
single  piece  would  make  a  tract  of  3,033  square  miles — nearly  one 
and  one  half  times  the  size  of  the  state  of  Delaware.  This  is 
certainly  an  excellent  beginning,  but  with  a  cause  so  urgent  it  is 
to  be  hoped  that  many  more  such  protected  areas  will  be  called 
for  in  the  near  future.  Minnesota  is  so  large  that  very  numerous 
tracts  can  be  thus  segregated  without  seriously  infringing  upon  the 
privileges  or  liberties  of  anyone,  and  future  generations  will  appre- 
ciate and  praise  the  wisdom  of  those  who  have  inaugurated  and 
put  into  effect  the  present  movement.  At  least  the  attempt  on 
a  large  scale  is  worth  while,  as  there  is  no  other  plan  that  holds 
out  a  promise  of  equally  good  results. 


Horned  Lark 


A  LIST  OF  MINNESOTA  GAME  AND  WILD-LIFE  REFUGES,  WITH 

APPROXIMATE  AREA  OF  EACH  COMPLETE 

TO  JANUARY  1,  1919 

Game  Refuges 

Superior  Game  Refuge 1,290,000  acres 

Minnetonka  Game  Refuge 69,000  " 

Itasca  County  Game  Refuge 69,120  " 

Minnesota  River  Game  Refuge 15,000  " 

Beltrami  County  Game  Refuge  .  • 12,800  " 

Waseca  County  Game  Refuge 23,360  " 

Polk  County  Game  Refuge,  No.  1 83,840  " 

Polk  County  Game  Refuge,  No.  2 7,040  " 

Nicollet  County  Game  Refuge 13,680  " 

Roseau  County  Game  Refuge •.  46,080  " 

Pine  County  Game  Refuge 1 15,840  " 

Winona  County  Game  Refuge,  Wiscoy  Valley 8,425  " 

Winona  County  Game  Refuge,  Gilmore  Valley 2,580  ' 

St.  Louis  County  Game  Refuge,  T.  60-20  and  T.  59-20 46,080  " 

St.  Louis  County  Game  Refuge,  T.  57-19  and  part  of  T.  57-20 30,720  " 

St.  Louis  County  Game  Refuge .  21,760  " 

Morrison  County  Game  Refuge,  No.  1 16,000  " 

Kandiyohi  County  Game  Refuge 10,740  " 

Anoka  County  Game  Refuge 2,000  " 

Wild-Life  Refuges 

Ramsey  County  Wild-Life  Refuge 5,000  " 

St.  Croix  River  Wild- Life  Refuge  (Washington  County) 3,000  " 

Martin  County  Wild-Life  Refuge 760  " 

Morrison  County  Wild- Life  Refuge,  No.  2 1,060  " 

State  Forests  (Also  Game  Refuges) 

Burntside  State  Forest. 20,000  " 

Pillsbury  State  Forest 1,000  " 

State  Parks  (Also  Wild-Life  Refuges') 

Itasca  State  Park 22,000  " 

Jay  Cooke  State  Park 4,000  " 

Fort  Ridgley  State  Park 160  " 

Minneopa  State  Park 114  " 

Interstate  State  Park 110  " 

Ramsey  State  Park 80  " 

Austin  State  Park 50  " 

Camp  Release  State  Park 12  " 

Federal  Bird  Reserve 

Spirit  Island  Bird  Reserve  (Mille  Lacs  County) 2  " 

Total 1,941,413  acres 


Map_of  Minnesota  showing  location  of  Game  and  Wild-Life  Refuges.    Prepared  by 
Mr.  Carlos  Avery,  Commissioner  of  Game  and  Fish 


OUTLAWED    AND    QUESTIONABLE    BIRDS 

Minnesota  is  provided  with  good  and  comprehensive  laws  for 
the  protection  of  its  birds.  In  the  case  of  those  species  specified 
as  Game  Birds,  open  seasons  are  stipulated  when  such  birds  may 
be  shot  under  certain  restrictions.  All  other  birds  are  protected 
throughout  the  year  with  the  exception  of  the  following,  which 
are  considered  to  do  more  harm  than  good. 

Cooper's  Hawk 

Sharp-shinned  Hawk 

Goshawk 

Great  Horned  Owl 

Crow 

Red-winged  Blackbird 

Yellow-headed  Blackbird 

Bronzed  Grackle  or  Crow  Blackbird 

Rusty  Blackbird 

Brewer's  Blackbird 

House  Sparrow  or  English  Sparrow 

There  are  a  few  other  birds  that  sometimes  do  sufficient 
damage,  collectively  or  individually,  to  bring  them  into  more  or 
less  disrepute.  Only  one  or  two  of  these  are  open  to  general 
condemnation.  The  others  are  far  more  beneficial  than  injurious, 
and  should  never  be  molested  except  under  the  greatest  provocation. 
They  are  all  protected  by  existing  laws  and  if  occasion  arises  when 
it  seems  necessary  to  destroy  any  of  them  to  arrest  local  depreda- 
tions, permission  should  be  sought  of  the  Commissioner  of  Game 
and  Fish,  Capitol  Building,  St.  Paul.  It  is  well  established  that 
certain  individuals  of  ordinarily  beneficial  species  acquire  bad 
habits  that  render  them  obnoxious,  and  it  may  appear  necessary 
at  times  to  put  such  culprits  out  of  the  way.  But  it  is  better  in  the 
long  run  to  be  patient  and  put  up  with  moderate  losses  of  fruit, 
vegetables,  and  fish  than  to  destroy  too  hastily  birds  that  are 
generally  useful  and  attractive. 

Double-crested  Cormorant,  BLACK  LOON.  Its  fish  diet  sometimes 
brings  it  into  disfavor;  but  the  fish  it  catches  are  for  the  most 
part  non-game  fish  and  its  presence  about  our  lakes  lends  an 
attractive  feature. 

Great  Blue  Heron.  Same  as  the  Cormorant.  Crayfish,  frogs, 
snakes,  meadow  mice,  etc.,  form  a  considerable  part  of  its  diet. 


46  THOMAS   SADLER   ROBERTS 

Hawks  and  Owls  other  than  those  included  in  Outlawed  List.    All 

hawks  and  owls  are  almost  universally  considered  legitimate 
prey  for  the  gun  and  steel  trap.  If  some  men  are  murderers, 
shoot  all  men  on  sight.  It  is  true  that  several  of  the  larger 
kinds  of  protected  hawks  and  owls  do  kill  an  occasional  useful 
wild  bird  or  farmer's  chicken,  but  as  a  group,  big  and  little, 
they  constitute  the  chief  agency  provided  for  keeping  in 
subjection  a  horde  of  wild  mice,  injurious  rodents  of  many 
kinds,  innumerable  destructive  insects,  snakes,  etc.,  that  other- 
wise would  defy  all  restraint  and  do  incalculable  damage. 

Belted  Kingfisher.  This  bird  may  perhaps  have  to  be  eliminated 
at  times  about  fish  hatcheries,  but  otherwise  it  is  an  attrac- 
tive feature  of  lake  shores  and  waterways. 

Sapsucker  or  Yellow-bellied  Woodpecker.  Little  can  be  honestly 
said  in  behalf  of  this  handsome  culprit.  Were  it  not  for  the 
confusion  that  might  arise  with  its  most  valuable  kinsfolk, 
this  bird  would  deserve  an  honored  place  among  the  "outlaws." 

Red-headed  Woodpecker.  Has  a  fondness  for  the  smaller  culti- 
vated fruits  and  sometimes  destroys  the  nests,  eggs,  and  young 
of  other  birds;  but  it  much  more  than  makes  up  for  these 
occasional  delinquencies  by  consuming  large  quantities  of  in- 
jurious insects. 

Kingbird.  Is  sometimes  called  the  "Bee-bird"  and  held  to  account 
for  catching  honey  bees;  but  is  to  be  considered  one  of  our 
valuable  insect  destroyers. 

Blue  Jay.  A  bird  of  omnivorous  feeding  habits,  the  Jay  not 
infrequently  robs  birds'  nests  of  both  eggs  and  young.  But 
on  the  whole  the  damage  done  is  not  great  and  the  beautiful 
plumage,  the  familiar  habits,  and  the  enlivening  presence  of 
the  Jay  throughout  the  coldest  winter  weather,  entitle  it  to 
favorable  consideration. 

Baltimore  Oriole.  The  small-fruit-  and  pea-eating  habits  of  this 
beautiful  bird  are  unimportant  in  comparison  with  its  other- 
wise general  desirability. 

Rose-breasted  Grosbeak.  This  bird  has  a  strong  predilection  for 
green  peas,  which  it  shells  out  adroitly  as  fast  as  they  fill  the 
pods.  But  this  failing  should  be  prevented  or  overlooked,  for 
the  offender  is  among  our  most  valuable  insect  destroyers  and 
ranks  high  in  song  and  beauty.  Its  special  fondness  for  potato 
bugs  and  their  larvae  has  earned  for  it  the  name  of  "Potato- 
bug  Bird." 


OUTLAWED   BIRDS  47 

Cedar  Waxwing.  Eats  small  fruits  and  pulls  the  petals  from  the 
blossoms  of  fruit  trees,  but  should  be  protected  on  account  of 
its  valuable  insectivorous  habits. 

Shrikes,  "Butcher-birds."  The  shrikes  are  passerine  "birds  of 
prey."  They  kill  a  few  small  birds,  but  their  food  consists 
chiefly  of  mice,  shrews,  snakes,  lizards,  and  large  insects  such 
as  grasshoppers  and  locusts,  and  they  are  to-  be  regarded 
as  beneficial  birds. 

Catbird.  A  common  and  sometimes  serious  destroyer  of  small 
garden  fruits.  Particularly  troublesome  birds  may  have  to 
be  disposed  of;  but  on  the  whole  it  is  an  important  insectiv- 
orous bird. 

Robin.  There  has  been  much  discussion  as  to  the  real  economic 
status  of  this  familiar  and  generally  beloved  bird.  When 
present  in  numbers,  they  often  do  no  inconsiderable  damage 
in  gardens,  orchards,  and  vineyards,  marring  and  rendering 
unsaleable  much  that  they  do  not  consume.  Under  such 
conditions  it  is  only  reasonable  that  the  surplus  should  be 
disposed  of,  and  a  properly  constituted  official  should  be 
empowered  to  take  action  in  such  cases.  On  the  other  hand 
the  Robin  consumes  a  very  large  number  of  the  most  injurious 
insects,  being  one  of  the  chief  enemies  of  the  dreaded  white 
grubs  or  cockchafer  larvae. 


Young  Yellow-headed  Blackbirds 


AN    ABRIDGED    BIBLIOGRAPHY    OF    MINNESOTA 
ORNITHOLOGY 

From  a  bibliography  of  Minnesota  ornithological  literature 
aggregating  nearly  1,500  titles,  the  following  have  been  chosen  as 
best  illustrating  the  development  of  the  bird-lore  of  the  state.  Pref- 
erence has  been  given  to  articles  adding  new  material,  and  publica- 
tions of  a  general  nature  or  dealing  only  with  the  habits  or  local 
occurrence  of  species  have  been  omitted.  The  chronological  se- 
quence by  years  has  been  adopted  rather  than  an  alphabetical 
arrangement  as  illustrating  the  historical  aspect  of  the  subject. 
The  authors'  names  will  reveal  those  who  have  played  the  princi- 
pal part  in  developing  the  ornithology  of  Minnesota.  In  this  par- 
ticular there  is,  however,  one  important  exception,  for  the  name  of 
Dr.  J.  C.  Hvoslef  of  Lanesboro,  Fillmore  County,  does  not  appear. 
For  many  years  Dr.  Hvoslef  has  been  a  most  zealous  and  accurate 
observer  of  the  birds  of  southeastern  Minnesota,  but  his  great 
modesty  has  prevented  his  publishing  first-hand  the  results  of  his 
work.  The  Biological  Survey  in  Washington  and  various  Minne- 
sota bird  students  have  been  the  recipients  of  his  copious  field  notes, 
and  his  name  appears  second-hand  in  many  connections  as  author- 
ity for  original  and  valuable  records. 

Citations  of  general  works  on  ornithology  containing  Minne- 
sota references  have  been  omitted,  as  also  have  references  to  the 
journals  and  writings  of  early  explorers  and  travellers  in  this  region, 
which  not  infrequently  contain  interesting  bird  matter,  as  they 
belong  more  properly  in  an  extended  bibliography.  However,  one 
publication  of  the  latter  class  should  perhaps  receive  brief  mention 
— Keating's  Narrative  of  the  Major  Long  Expedition,  which  in  1823 
explored  the  country  (now  included  in  Minnesota)  from  Fort  Snell- 
ing  to  Lake  Traverse  and  thence  north  to  the  Canadian  boundary. 
Much  definite  and  interesting  bird  matter  is  scattered  through  the 
two  volumes  of  this  narrative,  resulting  probably  from  observa- 
tions made  by  Thomas  Say,  the  entomologist,  who  accompanied 
the  expedition. 

1852.  PRATTEN,  HENRY.  Systematic  Catalogue  of  Birds  Observed 
in  Northern  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota.  Owen's  Geol.  Sur.  of 
Wis.,  Iowa,  and  Minn.  pp.  622-23. 

A  list  of  131  species;  few  definite  localities.     Of  little  interest  at  present 
except  historically. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  49 

1855.  HEAD,  J.  F.  Some  Remarks  on  the^  Natural  History  of  the 
Country  about  Fort  Ripley,  Minnesota.  Ninth  Ann.  Rep. 
Smith.  Inst.  pp.  291-93. 

The  first  list  of  Minnesota  birds  as  such;  58  species  enumerated.     Historical 
interest  only. 

1863.  BLAKISTON,  CAPTAIN  THOMAS.  On  the  Birds  of  the  Interior 
of  British  North  America.  Ibis  first  series  5:39-87,  121-55. 

An  important  paper  containing  several  original  Minnesota  records. 

1871.  TRIPPE,  T.  MARTIN.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Minnesota. 
Proc.  Essex  Inst.  6:113-19. 

The  first  important  list  of  Minnesota  Birds;  138  species  with  comments.     A 
much  quoted  source  of  early  first  records. 

1874.  HATCH,  P.   L.     Report  on  the  Birds  of  Minnesota.     Bull. 
Minn.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  for  187-4  pp.  43-68. 

An  annotated  list  of  226  species  and  2  subspecies.     "Hatch's  First  List." 

1875.  ROBERTS,  T.  S.     New  Birds  from  Minnesota.      Forest  and 
Stream  5:292. 

A  list  of  20  species  with  brief  notes;  mostly  new  to  the  state. 

1876.  BENNER,   FRANKLIN.      "Minnesota   Rambles."      Forest  and 
Stream  6:263. 

Contains  some  original  nesting  records. 

1876.  HATCH,  P.  L.     Report  on  Ornithology.     Bull.  Minn.  Acad. 
Nat.  Sci.  for  1875,  pp.  157-65. 

A  supplementary  list  of  41  species  with  notes. 

ROBERTS,   T.   S.      English  Sparrows  in   Minnesota.      Forest 
and  Stream  7:277. 

Record  of  first  at  Minneapolis. 

1877.  HATCH,  P.  L.     Report  on  Ornithology.     Bull.  Minn.  Acad. 
Nat.  Sci.  for  1876,  pp.  305-9. 

Annotated  list  of  10  species  additional  to  list  of  1874. 

HERRICK,  C.  L.     Ornithological  Notes.     Geol.  and  Nat.  Hist. 
Sur.  Minn.,  Fifth  Ann.  Rep.,  for  1876,  pp.  230-37. 

Some  new  records  with  list  of  60  species  collected. 

1878.  HATCH,  P.  L.    Report  on  Ornithology  for  1877.    Bull.  Minn. 
Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  for  1877,  pp.  345-46. 

Two  additional  species  with  various  notes. 


50  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

TIFFANY,  W.  L.  Notes  on  Three  Rare  Birds  of  Minnesota. 
American  Naturalist  12:470-72. 

Bohemian  Waxwing,  Evening  Grosbeak,  and  LeConte's  Sparrow. 

VAN  DYKE,  T.  S.  Woodcock  Shooting  on  the  Upper  Missis- 
sippi. Forest  and  Stream  10:430-31,  447-48. 

Showing  the  abundance  of  woodcock  on  the  Mississippi  River  bottom  lands 
in  Minnesota  in  early  days. 

1879.  ROBERTS,  T.  S.     Notes  on  Some  Minnesota  Birds.     Bull. 
Nutt.  Ornith.  Club  4:152-55. 

Several  first  records. 

WILLIAMS,  ROBERT  S.  The  Blue-gray  Ghatcatcher  and  San- 
derling  in  Minnesota.  Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club  4:182. 

Records  of  capture. 

1880.  ABBOTT,  W.  L.     List  of  Birds  Taken  at  Pembina,    North 
Dakota,  July  1879.     Forest  and  Stream  13:984-85. 

List  of  67  species  including  Minnesota  records. 

HAL  A  DAKOTA  (GEN.  H.  H.  SIBLEY).  Sports  of  By-gone 
Days.  Forest  and  Stream  15:405-6. 

An  account  of  a  hunting  trip  in  central  Minnesota  in  1847  with  comments 
on  abundance  of  game  birds  seen. 

ROBERTS,  T.  S.  Breeding  of  Fuligula  Collaris  in  Southeast- 
ern Minnesota,  with  a  Description  of  Its  Nest  and  Eggs. 
Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club  5:61. 

A  first  record. 

Spring  Notes  from  Minneapolis,   Minn.      Forest  and 

Stream  14:224,  328,  428-29. 

A  general  natural  history  calendar  for  the  spring  of  1880.  Many  bird  rec- 
ords. 

and   BENNER,   FRANKLIN.     A   Contribution   to   the 

Ornithology  of  Minnesota.     Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club  5:11-20. 

An  annotated  list  of  86  species  and  subspecies  observed  in  Grant  and  Trav- 
erse counties  in  June,  1879.  Several  new  records  for  the  state. 

ROBERTS,  T.  S.  A  Partial  List  of  the  Birds  of  St.  Louis  and 
Lake  Counties,  Minn.  Geol.  and  Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn., 
Eighth  Ann.  Rep.  for  1879,  pp.  155-65. 

An  annotated  list  of  105  species  and  subspecies. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  51 

1881.  COOKE,  W.  W.     The  Least  Bittern  in  Northwestern  Minne- 
sota.    Bull.  Nutt.  Ornith.  Club  6:186. 

Common  and  breeding  near  White  Earth,  Becker  Co. 

HALLOCK,  CHARLES.  The  Fauna  of  Northern  Minnesota. 
Its  Traverse  and  Routes  of  Migration.  Bull.  Minn.  Acad^ 
Nat.  Sci.  2:101-10. 

Includes  game  birds  and  routes  of  bird  migration. 

HATCH,  P.  L.  A  List  of  Birds  of  Minnesota.  Geol.  and  Nat, 
Hist.  Sur.  Minn.,  Ninth  Ann.  Rep.  for  1880,  pp.  359-72. 

A  briefly  annotated  list  of  281  species.     "Hatch's  Second  List." 

ROBERTS,  T.  S.  The  Winter  Birds  of  Minnesota.  Geol.  and 
Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn.,  Ninth  Ann.  Rep.  for  1880,  pp.  373-83, 
An  annotated  list  of  52  species. 

1883-4.  BRACKETT,  FOSTER  H.     Ornithological  Notes  from  Mirihe- 
sota.     Quar.  Jour.  Boston  Zool.  Soc.  2:47-49;  3:7-16. 

An  annotated  list  of  134  species  observed  at  Detroit,  Becker  Co. 

1883.   Editorial.       Minnesota    Game    Laws.       Forest    and    Stream 
21:13-14. 

A  digest  of  the  existing  game  law. 

HALLOCK,  CHAS.     Roseau  Lake.     American  Field  20:220. 

As  a  breeding  ground  of  ducks  and  geese. 

1886.  PRESTON,  J.  W.     Breeding  of  Franklin's  Gull  in  Minnesota. 
Ornith.  and  Ool.  11:54-55. 

First  account  of  the  now  well  known  colony  of  this  Gull  at  Heron  Lake. 

Nesting  of  the  Swallow-tailed  Kite  in  Becker  County,. 

Minnesota.     Ornith.  and  Ool.  11:181-83. 

An  original  and  interesting  account  of  the  nesting  of  this  bird. 

SELOVER,  GEO.  H.  Minnesota  Residents.  Sunny  South  Oolo- 
gist  1:32-35. 

Annotated  list  of  18  species. 

1887.  MILLER,  THOS.    Summer  Birds  of  Heron  Lake.     Ornith.  and 
Ool.  12:7. 

Consists  chiefly  of  an  account  of  the  Black-crowned  Night  Heronry. 

PRESTON,  J.  W.  Some  Birds  of  Heron  Lake,  Minn.  Ornith^ 
and  Ool.  12:44. 


52  BIBLIOGRAPHY  .. 

1888.  BAILEY,  VERNON.     Report  on  Some  of  the  Results  of  a  Trip 
through  Parts  of  Minnesota  and  Dakota.    Report  of  the  Com- 
mission of  Agriculture,  1887,  pp.  426-54. 

Field  notes  on  the  economic  value  of  certain  Minnesota  birds. 

CANTWELL,  GEO.  G.  Notes  on  Some  Minnesota  Winter 
Birds.  Ornith.  and  Ool.  13:27-28. 

Notes  on  32  species  observed  near  Minneapolis. 

COOKE,  W.  W.  Report  of  Bird  Migration  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley  for  the  Years  1884  and  1885.  U.  S.  Depart,  of  Agri. 
Div.  of  Economic  Ornith. ,  Bull.  no.  2,  pp.  1-313.  Washington 
Printing  Office.  1888. 

An  important  publication  containing  much  original  information  from  a  num- 
ber of  Minnesota  observers. 

1889.  CANTWELL,  GEO.  G.    Notes  from  Minnesota.    A uk  6:340-41. 

* 

Original  and  interesting  field  notes  from  Lac  qui  Parle  Co.  on  six  species. 

Nesting  of  the  Chestnut-collared  Longspur.    Ornith. 

and  Ool.  14:185-86. 

Account  of  eight  nests  found  in  Lac  qui  Parle  Co. 

A   Collecting  Trip  to  Lac  qui    Parle    Co.,    Minn. 

Ornith.  and  Ool.  14:151-54,  167-69. 

Contains  much  new  matter  on  a  number  of  species. 

PRESTON,    J.    W.      The    Blackburnian    Warbler    at    Home. 

Ornith.  and  Ool.  14:34-35. 

Record  of  the  finding  of  two  nests  in  northern  Minnesota. 

1890.  CANTWELL,  GEO.  G.    Shrikes  of  Minnesota.    Auk,  7:213. 

A  List  of  the  Birds  of  Minnesota.    Ornith.  and  Ool. 


15:129-37. 

An  annotated  list  of  295  species  and  subspecies;  the  most  complete  and 
satisfactory  list  up  to  that  date. 

DE  LA  BARRE,  WILLIAM.     Winter  Birds  of  Hennepin  Co., 
Minn.  Oologist  7:24-25. 

Annotated  list  of  16  species. 

Family  Rallidae  in  Minnesota.     Oologist  7:69-70. 

The   King   Rail   in    Minnesota    and    Other    Notes. 

Oologist  7:161-62. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  53 

HARRISON,  WHIT.  The  Prothonotary  Warbler.  Oologist  7: 
228-29. 

First  account  of  the  nesting  of  this  southern  bird  in  Minnesota. 

ROBERTS,  THOS.  S.  Notes  on  Some  Minnesota  Birds.  Auk 
7:213-14. 

Five  species;  two  new  records. 

1891.  BENNER,  FRANKLIN.     Notes  on  the  Arrival  and  Nesting  of 
Birds  in  the  Vicinity  of  Minneapolis,  for  the  Spring  of  1887. 
Bull.  Minn.  Acad.  Nat.  Sci.  for  1887-1889,  pp.  187-91. 

Many  interesting  field  records. 

BROWN,  A.  D.  The  First  Record  of  McCown's  Longspur 
Breeding  in  Minnesota.  Orniih.  and,  Ool.  16:142. 

Nesting  records  from  near  Lake  Benton,  Lincoln  Co. 

CANTWELL,  GEO.  G.  Additions  to  the  List  of  the  Birds  of 
Minnesota.  Ornith.  and  Ool.  16:157. 

PRESTON,  J.  W.  A  Glimpse  of  the  Nashville  Warbler. 
Ornith.  and  Ool.  16:89-90. 

Records  of  four  nests  found  in  northern  Minnesota. 

1892.  BULLTS,    OTTO    L.      Birds    Known   to    Breed   in    Faribault, 
Martin,    and   Jackson    Counties.      Ann.    Rep.    Minn.    State 
Hort.  Soc.  20:360-64. 

HATCH,  P.  L.  Notes  on  the  Birds  of  Minnesota.  Geol.  and 
Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn.  First  Report  of  the  State  Zoologist, 
pp.  1-487. 

The  most  extensive  publication  to  date  on  the  ornithology  of  Minnesota. 
It  contains  biographies  and  descriptions  of  304  species.  It  is  unfortunate 
that  the  records  are  not  entirely  reliable  in  some  instances,  but  it  is  thus  far 
the  only  "Book"  on  Minnesota  Birds. 

1893.  GUILFORD,  H.  M.     Dendroica  kirtlandi  in  Minnesota.     Auk 
10:86. 

First  and  only  record  of  Kirtland's  Warbler  for  Minnesota. 

R.,  T.  S.  (ROBERTS,  THOS.  S.).  Hatch's  Notes  on  the  Birds 
of  Minnesota.  Auk  10:288-90. 

A  critical  review  of  Dr.  Hatch's  book  with  mention  of  several  additional 
species. 


54  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

1894.  EMERSON,   OTTO.     Among  the  Water  Birds  of   Minnesota. 
Nidiologist  1:114-16. 

Account  of  a  day's  experiences  among  the  Minnesota  River  sloughs  near 
Minneapolis  in  June,  1890. 

MITCHELL,  WALTON  I.  The  Woodpeckers  of  Minnesota. 
Oologist  11:145-46. 

1894-95.    PEABODY,  P.  B.    Water  Birds  of  Heron  Lake.     Oologist 
11:357-59;  12:14-15. 

Spring  arrivals  and  nesting  notes. 

1895.  GAULT,  BENJ.  T.     The  Passenger  Pigeon  in  Aitkin  County,. 
Minn.,  with  a  Recent  Record  for  Northeastern  Illinois.     Auk 
12:80. 

A  second-hand  1894  record  for.  Minnesota. 

PEABODY,  P.  B.  Glossy  Ibis  at  Heron  Lake.  Nidiologist 
2:116-17. 

First  and  only  record  of  this  bird  nesting  in  Minnesota. 

1896.  White-faced   Glossy   Ibis   Breeding  in    Minnesota. 

"..     -Auk  13:79. 

The  Heron  Lake  data  with  definite  specific  identification. 

1897.  GAULT,  BENJ.  T.     Geothlypis  Agilis  a  Possible  Breeder  in 
Northern  Minnesota.    Auk  14:222-23. 

Comments  on  several  interesting  species  besides  the  Connecticut  Warbler  - 

1898.  GLEASON,   H.   W.     Summer  Melodists.      The  Kingdom    10: 
705-6. 

Contains  records  of  the  Mockingbird  at  Waconia,  Carver  Co.,  and  Minne- 
apolis. A  number  of  other  popular  articles  on  birds  by  Mr.  Gleason  were 
published  in  vols.  9,  10,  and  11  of  The  Kingdom,  a  weekly  religious  paper 
issued  at  Minneapolis.  They  contain  much  original  information  about 
Minnesota  birds. 

JOHNSON,    C.     B.      Prothonotary    Warbler.       (Protonotarid 

citrea).     Oologist  15:53-54. 

Habits  and  nesting  of  this  bird  near  Red  Wing. 

LANO,  ALBERT.  Sennett's  Nighthawk  (Chordeiles  virginianus 
sennetti)  at  Madison,  Minn.  Auk  15:54-55. 

Original  records. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  55- 


1899.  KNOX,  J.   C.      My  First  Trip  in    '99.      Oologist  16:118-20r 
131-34. 

Interesting  field  notes  from  Jackson  Co. 

LANO,  ALBERT.  The  Turnstone  (Arenaria  inter  pres)  in  Min- 
nesota. Auk  16:76-77. 

Taking  of  several  specimens  reported. 

PEABODY,  P.  B.  Richardson's  Owl.  Bird-Lore  1:190-92. 
Illus. 

Occurrence  at  Hallock,  Kittson  Co. 

ROBERTS,  THOS.  S.  The  Prothonotary  or  Golden  Swamp 
Warbler  (Protonotaria  citrea)  a  Common  Summer  Resident 
of  Southeastern  Minnesota.  Auk  16:236-46.  Illus. 

Contains  first  record  of  the  Red-bellied  Woodpecker  in  Minnesota. 

WARREN,  OSCAR  BIRD.  A  Chapter  in  the  Life  of  the  Canada 
Jay.  Auk  16:12-19.  Illus. 

An  important  account,  illustrated  with  original  photographs,  of  the  nesting 
of  this  bird  in  northern  Minnesota. 

1900.  ROBERTS,  THOMAS  S.     An  Account  of  the  Nesting  Habits  of 
Franklin's  Rosy  Gull  (Larus  franklini)  as  Observed  at  Heron 
Lake  in  Southwestern  Minnesota.     Auk    17:272-83.      Illus. 

Includes  record  of  the  nesting  of  the  Eared  Grebe,  etc. 

1901.  PEABODY,    P.    B,      Nesting    Habits   of   LeConte's   Sparrow. 
Auk  18:129-34.     Illus. 

Notes  from  northwestern  Minnesota. 

1902.  Cox,    ULYSSES    O.      The   Pileated   Woodpecker    (Ceophlaus 
pileatus)  in  Minnesota.,      Auk  19:388-89.     Illus. 

1904.   CURRIER,  EDMONDE  S.     Summer  Birds  of  the  Leech  Lake 
Region,  Minnesota.     Auk  21:29-44. 

Annotated  list  of  117  species  and  subspecies. 

GIBBS,  OLIVER  and  McCRAY,  Miss  ALICE  C.  Our  Summer 
Boarders — The  Birds.  Trees,  Fruits,  and  Flowers  of  Minne- 
sota 32:251-55. 

Contains  a  nominal  list  of  85  species  by  Miss  McCray  from  St.  Paul  and 
Prescott,  Wis. 


56  BIBLIOGRAPHY 

LANGE,  D.  How  to  Know  One  Hundred  Wild  Birds  of  Minne- 
sota and  the  Northwest,  pp.  1-48.  Minneapolis,  Minnesota: 
School  Education  Company. 

A  small  booklet  with  condensed  descriptions  and  notes. 

1905.  BUTCHER,  WM.     Notes  and   News:   Minnesota.      Bird-Lore 
7:184. 

States  that  the  Minnesota  Game  Laws  at  that  time  were  "probably  the  most 
radical  and  advanced  of  any  in  force  in  the  United  States." 

1907.   MEEKER,    D.    W.      Disappearing    Birds    and    Game    Birds. 
Wilcox's  History  of  Becker  Co.,  pp.  186-90. 

Statements  in  regard  to  the  early  abundance  of  many  of  the  larger  species  of 
birds  in  Becker  Co.  as  compared  with  their  present  scarcity. 

ROBERTS,  THOS.  S.  List  of  Birds  of  Becker  County,  Minne- 
sota. Wilcox's  History  of  Becker  Co.,  pp.  159-86. 

An  annotated  list  of  262  species  compiled  from  various  sources;  rather  loose- 
ly put  together  and  containing  some  inaccuracies,  notably  the  inclusion 
of  the  Wood  Thrush,  which  does  not  occur  so  far  north  in  the  state. 

1909.  The  Prairie  Falcon   (Falco  mexicanus)  in  Western 

Minnesota.    Auk  26:191-92. 

A  brief  record  of  a  specimen  in  the  Survey  Collection. 

1910.  —  The  Evening  Grosbeak  in  Minnesota.     Bull.  Minn. 
A  cad.  Sci.  4:406-14. 

A  biographical  sketch. 

1911.  COMMONS,    MRS.    MARIE    ANDREWS.      Birds    of    Hennepin 
County.     The  Minneapolis  Sunday  Tribune.     Feb.  12;  Feb. 
19;  Mch.   12;  Apr.   16;  May  14;  June  11;  July  9;  Aug.   13; 
Sept.  17;  and  Oct.  22.     Illus. 

These  articles  contain  a  large  amount  of  information  about  our  birds. 

HONEYWELL,  ALBERT  W.,  JR.     Notes  on  Some  Summer  and 
Fall  Birds  of  the  Crooked  Lake  Region,  Cass  and  Crow  Wing 
Counties,  Minn.    Auk  28:229-37. 
Annotated  list  of  86  species. 

1912.  LANO,  ALBERT.    Gray  Gyrfalcon  (Falco  rusticolus  rusticolus) 
in  Minnesota.     Auk  29:239. 

Record  of  a  specimen  taken  in  Lac  qui  Parle  Co.  Mr.  Lano  has  published 
numerous  other  notes  about  rare  Minnesota  birds  in  the  Auk  and  elsewhere. 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  57 

1914.  HONEYWELL,  ALBERT  W.,  JR.    Additions  to  "Notes  on  Some 
Summer  and  Fall  Birds  of  the  Crooked  Lake  Region,  Cass 
and  Crow  Wing  Counties,  Minn."     Auk  31:82-86. 

Eleven  species  added  to  list  of  1911. 

ROBERTS,  THOS.  S.  Brewer's  Blackbird  (Euphagus  cyano- 
cephalus)  Breeding  in  Southeastern  Minnesota.  Auk  31: 
538-40. 

1915.  BAILEY,   BERNARD.     Two  Sparrows  of  Sherburne  County, 
Minnesota.     Oologist  32:131. 

Field  and  Nelson's  Sparrows  common  there  spring  of  1915. 

FRANZEN,  J.  W.  Heron  Lake  a  Nesting  Place  for  Black- 
crowned  Heron  and  Franklin's  Gull.  Fins,  Feathers  and  Fur 
no.  2,  June,  1915:12-14.  Illus. 

Description  of  nesting  habits,  etc. 

LOFSTROM,  LAWRENCE  L.  Birds  from  Cambridge,  Isanti  Co., 
Minnesota.  Auk  32:501-5. 

An  important  article  having  a  bearing  on  the  faunal  areas  of  Minnesota. 
Fifteen  species  of  birds  are  treated. 

WASHBURN,  F.  L.     Some  Useful  Birds  Found  in  Minnesota. 
Circular  no.  32:1-25.     Illus.     St.  Anthony  Park:  State  Ento- 
mologist's Office. 
Chiefly  economical. 

1916.  A  VERY,  CARLOS.     Protect  the  Woodpecker.     Fins,  Feathers 
and  Fur  September,  1916:9. 

Habits,  descriptions,  and  plea  for  protection. 

GERTKIN,  SEVERN.  A  Record  of  Townsend's  Solitaire 
(Myadestes  townsendi).  Auk  33:327. 

First  record  for  Minnesota. 

LUEDTKE,  G.  H.  A  Minnesota  Feeding-Station.  Bird-Lore 
18:318-19. 

Contains  among  other  things  a  record  of  a  Tufted  Titmouse  visiting  a  feed- 
ing station  at  Fairmount,  Martin  Co.,  at  intervals  during  the  winter  of  1915- 
1916. 

ROBERTS,  THOS.  S.  The  Winter  Bird  Life  of  Minnesota. 
Geol.  and  Nat.  Hist.  Sur.  Minn.,  Zoological  Division.  Oc- 
casional Papers  no,  1:1-20.  Illus.  February,  1916. 

Annotated  list  of  86  species. 


58 


BIBLIOGRAPHY 


ROBERTS,  THOS.  S.  A  Synopsis  of  the  Bird  Life  of  Min- 
nesota. A  privately  printed  six  page  folding  leaflet;  500 
copies  issued. 

WASHBURN,  F.  L.  Further  Observations  on  Minnesota 
Birds:  Their  Economic  Relations  to  the  Agriculturist. 
Circular  no.  35:1-24.  Illus.  St.  Anthony  Park,  Minn.: 
Office  of  the  State  Entomologist. 

A  practical,  well  illustrated  paper  for  the  farmer  and  horticulturist. 

1918.  PETERS,  A.  S.     First  Minnesota  Yellow  Rail  Eggs.     Oologist 
35:28. 

Found  at  Lake  Wilson,  Murray  Co. 

WYMAN,  MRS.  MARTHA  ANDERSON.  Minneapolis  Bird  Life. 
The  Minneapolis  Sunday  Journal.  May  12,  1918. 

A  popular,  one  page,  illustrated  article. 


Nest,  eggs,  and  young  of  the  Black-billed  Cuckoo 


INDEX  TO  BIBLIOGRAPHY  BY  AUTHORS'  NAMES  AND  DATES 


ABBOTT,  W.  L.     1880. 

AVERY,  CARLOS.     1916. 

BAILEY,  BERNARD.     1915. 

BAILEY,  VERNON.     1888. 

BENNER,  FRANKLIN.     1876,  1880,  1891. 

BLAKISTON,  CAPT.  THOMAS.     1863. 

BRACKETT,  FOSTER  H.     1883-4. 

BROWN,  A.  D.     1891. 

BULLIS,  OTTO  L.     1892. 

CANTWELL,  GEO.  G.     1888,  1889,  1890, 

1891. 
COMMONS,    MRS.    MARIE   ANDREWS. 

1911. 

COOKE,  W.  W.      1881,  1888. 
Cox,  ULYSSES  O.     1902. 
CURRIER,  EDMONDE  S.     1904. 
DE  LA  BARRE,  WILLIAM.     1890. 
DUTCHER,  WILLIAM.     1905. 
EMERSON,  OTTO.     1894. 
FRANZEN,  J.  W.     1915. 
GAULT,  BENJ.  T.     1895,  1897. 
GERTKIN,  SEVERN.     1916. 
GIBBS,  OLIVER.     1904. 
GLEASON,  H.  W.     1898. 
GUILFORD,  H.  M.     1893. 
HAL  A  DAKOTAH  (Gen.  H.  H.  Sibley). 

1880. 

HALLOCK,  CHARLES.     1881,  1883. 
HARRISON,  WHIT.     1890. 
HATCH,  P.  L.     1874,  1876,  1877,  1878, 
1881    1892. 


HEAD,  J.  F.     1855. 

HERRICK,  C.  L.     1877. 

HONEYWELL,    ALBERT   W.,   JR.     1911, 

1914. 

JOHNSON,  C.  B.     1898. 
KNOX,  J.  C.     1899. 
LANGE,  D.     1904. 
LANO,  ALBERT.     1898,  1899,  1912. 
LOFSTROM,  LAWRENCE  L.     1915. 
LUEDTKE,  G.  H.     1916. 
McCRAY,  Miss  ALICE  C.     1904. 
MEEKER,  D.  W.     1907. 
MILLER,  THOS.     1887. 
MITCHELL,  WALTON  I.     1894. 
PEABODY,   P.    B.     1894-5,    1895,    1896, 

1899,  1901. 
PETERS,  A.  S.     1918. 
PRATTEN,  HENRY.     1852. 
PRESTON,  J.  W.    1886,  1887,  1889,  1891. 
ROBERTS,  THOS.  S.     1875,  1876,  1879, 

1880,   1881,   1890,   1893,   1899,   1907, 

1909,  1910,  1914,  1916. 
SELOVER,  GEO.  H.     1886. 
TIFFANY,  W.  L.     1878. 
TRIPPE,  T.  MARTIN.     1871. 
VAN  DYKE,  T.  S.     1878. 
WARREN,  OSCAR  BIRD.     1899. 
WASHBURN,  F.  L.     1915,  1916. 
WILLIAMS,  ROBERT  S.     1879. 
WYMAN,     MRS.     MARTHA    ANDERSON. 

1918. 


Florida   Gallinule   Chick 


Black  Tern,  nest  and  eggs 


60 


Nest  and  eggs  of  the  Mallard  Duck 


61 


62 


o- 


63 


Nest  and  eggs  of  the  Ruffed  Grouse 


The  Passenger  Pigeon 

Photograph  of  a  group  in  the  Survey  Museum,  University  of  Minnesota.     Upper 

bird,  male;  lower  bird,  female.     The  nest  is  a  real  nest  of  the  Passenger 

Pigeon,  collected  near  Minneapolis  in  1874.     This  bird  laid  only 

one  egg  but  nested  several  times  each  season 


65 


Nest  and  young  of  the  Broad-winged  Hawk 

A  garter  snake,  seen  hanging  over  the  left  side  of  the  nest,  was  brought  by  one  of 
the  parents  as  food  for  the  young  birds 


66 


t 


A  pair  of  young  Sparrow  Hawks  just  shedding  the  natal  down 


67 


Young  Screech  Owl 


68 


A  Ruby-throated  Hummingbird  drinking  sap  from  punctures  made  by  the  Sapsucker 
in  the  under  side  of  a  leaning  poplar  tree 


69 


Sapsucker  or  Yellow-bellied  Woodpecker  drinking  sap  from  punctures  it  has  made 
in  a  mountain  ash  tree 


70 


Young  Downy  Woodpeckers  and  nesting  hole 


71 


72 


73 


Oven-bird's  nest,  containing  one  egg  of  the  owner  and  three  of  the  Cowbird 


74 


Yellow  Warbler's  nest,  containing  three  eggs  of  the  owner  and  one  of  the  Cowbird 


75 


Chipping   Sparrow's   nest,   containing  two   young   of   the    owner    and    one    young 

Cowbird 


Same  young  birds  as  above  out  of  the  nest 
76 


Nest  of  Indigo  Bunting  containing  only  a  young  Cowbird 


77 


A  three-storied  nest  of  the  Yellow  Warbler  with  Cowbird's  eggs  buried  in  the  lower 
nests.    In  building  these  superimposed  nests,  the  Warbler  avoids  hatch- 
ing the  Cowbird's  eggs  but  sometimes  sacrifices  at  the  same  time 
her  own  as  in  the    lower    nest  above 


78 


A  double  nest  of  the  Yellow  Warbler 

Photograph  of  an  exhibit  in  the  Survey  Museum,  University  of  Minnesota.     There 

were  three  eggs  of  the  Warbler  and  one  of  the  Cowbird  in  the  lower 

nest  though  only  two  eggs  are  visible  through  the  opening 

cut  in  the  side  of  the  original  nest 


79 


80 


Snow  Buntings  and  Redpolls 
Photograph  of  a  group  in  the  Survey  Museum,  University  of  Minnesota 


81 


Cedar  Waxwing,  nest,  and  young 


82 


Young  Cedar  Wax  wings 

The  two  birds  on  the  end  of  the  branch  exhibit  at  this  early  age  the  "freezing" 
attitude  commonly  assumed  by  the  adults  as  a  means  of  concealment 


83 


84 


Male  Pine  Warbler,  nest,  and  young 


85 


Young  Black-capped  Chickadees  and  nesting  hole  in  a  birch  stump 


86 


Black-capped  and  Hudsonian  Chickadees,  Downy  Woodpecker,  and 

White-breasted  Nuthatch 
Photograph  of  a  group  in  the_Survey  Museum,  University  of  Minnesota 


87 


Catbird  and  its  nestl, 


88 


White-breasted  Nuthatch  at  window  feeding  counter 


Blue  Jay  at  window  feeding  counter 
89 


Downy  Woodpecker  at  window  feeding  counter 


90 


INDEX 


Accentor,  Golden-crowned.     See  Oven- 
bird 

Accidental  Species,  number  of,  8,  9 
Aegialitis  meloda,  23 
Alleghanian  Faunal  Area,  6 
Aluco  pratincola,  24 
Anatidae,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38    • 
Ani,  Grooved-billed,  24 
Arenaria  interpres  morinella,  23 
Astragalinus  tristis  pallidus,  24 
.\ustral  Region,  6 
Avocet,  29,  law  relating  to,  38 

Baeolophus  bicolor,  25 

Baldpate,  13 

Bee-bird.     See  Kingbird 

Bibliography,  an  abridged,  of  Minnesota 

birds,  48 
Biogeography,  5 

Bird  Reserve,  Federal,  in  Minnesota,  41 
Birds,  diving,  12 

harmless,  36 

land,  15 

of  prey,  15 

outlawed,  45 

questionable,  45 

vanishing,  30;  causes  of,  30 

water,  12 
Bittern,  14 

American.     See  Bittern 

least,  14 

Bitterns,  law  relating  to,  38 
Blackbird,  Brewer's,  6,  18,  45 

Cow.     See  Cowbird 

Crow.     See  Grackle,  Bronzed 

Red-winged,  18,  45 

Rusty,  18,  45 

Thick-billed  Red-winged,  18 

White-winged.    See  Bunting,  Lark 

Yellow-headed,  18,  45;  illustration, 

young,  47 

Blackbirds,  law  relating  to,  36;  as  out- 
lawed birds,  45 

Black-cap,  Wilson's.    See  Warbler,  Wil- 
son's 


Blue-bill,  Big.     See  Duck,  Scaup 

Little.     See  Duck,  Lesser  Scaup 
Bluebird,  21;  illustration,  young,  39 

Western,  35 

Bobolink,  18;  law  relating  to,  38 
Bob-white,    15;    illustration,    nest    and 

eggs,  63 

Boreal  Region,  5 
Brant,  34 

Black,  34 

White.     See  Goose,  Snow 
Branta  canadensis  hutchinsi,  22 

canadensis  minima,  22 
Buffle-head,  13 
Bull-bat.     See  Nighthawk 
Bunting,    Bay-winged.       See    Sparrow, 
Vesper 

Black-throated.    See  Dickcissel 

Cow.     See  Cowbird 

Indigo,  19 

Lark,  7,  19 

Painted,  25 

Snow,  18;  decrease  of,  33;  illustra- 
tion, Museum  group,  81 
Buleo  borealis  calurus,  23 

borealis  harlani,  23 
Butcher-bird.    See  Shrike,  Northern 
Butcher-birds.     See  Shrikes 
Butter-ball.     See  Buffle-head 

Calidris  leucophaea,  23 
Campestrian  Flora  and  Fauna,  6 
Camp-robber.     See  Jay,  Canada 
Canadian  Zone,  5 
Canary,  Wild.     See  Goldfinch 
Canvas-back,  13;  decrease  of,  31;  illus- 
tration, nest  and  eggs,  62 
Cardinal,  24 

Kentucky.     See  Cardinal 
Cardinalis  cardinalis  cardinalis,  24 
Carolinian  Flora  and  Fauna,  6 
Carpodacus  mexicanus  frontalis,  24 
Catbird,  21;  economic  value  of,  47;  illus- 
tration, adult,  88;  law  relating  to,  38 
Cedarbird.     See  Waxwing,  Cedar 


92 


INDEX 


Chat,  Yellow-breasted,  25 
Chatterer.     See  Waxwing,  Bohemian 
Chebec.     See  Flycatcher,  Least 
Check-list    of    birds    known    to    occur 

regularly  in  Minnesota,  12 
Chen  hyperboreus  nivalis,  22 
Cherry-bird.     See  Waxwing,  Cedar 
Chewink.     See  Towhee 
Chickadee,  8,  21;  illustration,  young,  86; 
Museum  group,  87 

Black-capped.     See  Chickadee 
Hudsonian,     7,     21;     illustration, 

Museum  group,  87 
'  Long-tailed,  25 
Chickadees,  law  relating  to,  38 
Chicken,  Prairie,  15;  decrease  of,  32;  law 

relating  to,  36 

Chippy.     See  Sparrow,  Chipping 
Colaptes  cafer  collar  is,  24 
Collecting  for   scientific   purposes,   law 

relating  to,  36 

Columbae,  law  relating  to,  36 
Columbidae,  law  relating  to,  38 
Coot,  14;  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 

white-winged.    See  Scoter,  White- 
winged 
Cormorant,  34 

Double-crested,  12;  as  questionable 

bird,  45 
Cowbird,  18;  illustrations — eggs,  74,  75, 

78,  79;  young,  76,  77 
Crane,  Blue.     See  Heron,  Great  Blue 
Little  Brown,  23 
Sandhill,  14;  decrease  of,  31 
White.    See  Crane,  Whooping 
Whooping,  14;  decrease  of,  31 
Cranes,  law  relating  to,  38 
Creeper,  Black  and  White.    See  Warbler, 
Black  and  White 
Brown,  9,  21 
Crossbill,  7,  18 

American.     See  Crossbill 
Red.     See  Crossbill 
White- winged,  18 
Crotophaga  sulcirosiris,  24 
Crow,  18;  great  increase  of,  32;  law  re- 
lating to,  36;  as  outlawed  bird,  45 

Fish,  35 

Cuckoo,    Black-billed,    16;    illustration, 
nest  and  eggs,  58 
Yellow-billed,  16 


Cuckoos,  law  relating  to,  38 
Curlew,  Eskimo,  29 

Hudsonian,  28 

Long-billed,  29 
Curlews,  law  relating  to,  38 

Dabchick.     See  Grebe,  Pied-billed 
Dendroica  cerulea,  25 

kirtlandi,  25 
Dickcissel,  19 

Diver,  Great  Northern.     See  Loon 
Dove,   Mourning,  15;  laws  relating  to, 
36,  38 

Prairie.    See  Gull,  Franklin's 

Turtle.    See  Dove,  Mourning 
Dowitcher,  35 

Long-billed,  14;  law  relating  to,  38 
Duck,  Baldpate,  13 

Black,  13 

Blue-bill.     See   Duck,   Scaup  and 
Lesser  Scaup 

Buffle-head,  13 

Canvas-back.     See  Canvas-back 

Fish.     See  Merganser,  Hooded 

Gad  wall,  13 

Golden-eye,  13 

Gray.     See  Gadwall 

Harlequin,  34 

King  Eider.    See  Eider,  King 

Lesser  Scaup,  13 

Long-tailed.     See  Old-squaw 

Mallard.     See  Mallard 

Old-squaw.     See  Old-squaw 

Pintail.     See  Pintail. 

Redhead.     See  Redhead. 

Ring-billed.       See     Duck,     Ring- 
necked 

Ring-necked,  13 

Ruddy,  13 

Scaup, 13 

Shoveler,  13 

Spirit.     See  Buffle-head 

Summer.     See  Duck,  Wood 

Wood,  13;  decrease  of,  31 
Ducks,  Diving,  13 
Ducks,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 

Ducks,  Surface  Feeding,  13 

Eagle,  Bald,  16;  decrease  of,  32 
Golden,  16;  decrease  of,  32 


INDEX 


93 


Egret,  23 

Snowy,  34 
Eider,  King,  34 
Extirpated  species,  29;  number  of,  8 

Falco  mexicanus,  24 

rusticolus  gyrfalco,  23 

rusticolus  obsoletus,  23 

rusticolus  rusticolus,  23 
Falcon,  Peregrine.     See  Hawk,  Duck 

Prairie,  24 
Falcons,  16 
Faunal  Areas,  5,  6 
Feeding  counter,  window,  illustrations, 

89,  90 
Finch,  Grass.    See  Sparrow,  Vesper 

Harris's.     See  Sparrow,  Harris's 

Hepburn's  Rosy,  24 

House,  24 

Lark.     See  Sparrow,  Lark 

Lincoln's.     See  Sparrow,  Lincoln's 

Nelson's  Sharp-tailed.     See   Spar- 
row, Nelson's 

Pine.     See  Siskin,  Pine 

Purple,  7,  18 
Flicker,  Northern,  17;  law  relating  to,  38 

Red-shafted,  24 
Flycatcher,  Acadian,  35 

Alder,  17 

Crested,  17 

Great    Crested.      See    Flycatcher, 
Crested 

Least,  17 

Olive-sided,  17 

Traill's.     See  Flycatcher,  Alder 

Yellow-bellied,  17 
Flycatchers,  law  relating  to,  38 
Fly-up-the-creek.    See  Heron,  Green 

Gad  wall,  13 
Gallinaceous  Birds,  15 
Gallinae,  law  relating  to,  36 
Gallinule,  Florida,  14 

Purple,  35 

Gallinules,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 
Game  Birds,  denned,  36 
Game  farm,  Big  Island,  41 
Game  refuges,  Minnesota,  40;  manner  of 
establishing,  40 


Geese,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 
Gnatcatcher,  Blue-gray,  26 
Goatsuckers,  17 
Godwit,  Hudsonian,  14 

Marbled,  14;  decrease  of,  31 
Godwits,  law  relating  to,  38 
Golden-eye,  13 

Barrows's,  28 
Goldfinch,  9,  18 

Pale,  24 

Western.     See  Goldfinch,  Pale 
Goose,  Blue,  13 

Cackling,  13;  22 

Canada,  13;  decrease  of,  31 

Greater  Snow,  13,  22 

Hutchins's,  13,  22 

Snow,  8,  13 

White-cheeked,  34 

White-fronted,  13 
Goosander.     See  Merganser 
Goshawk,  15;  as  outlawed  bird,  45;  law 

relating  to,  36 
Grackle,  Bronzed,  18;  as  outlawed  bird, 

45 
Grebe,  Eared,  6,  12 

Holboell's,  12 

Horned,  12 

Pied-billed,  12 

Red-necked.  See  Grebe,  Hol- 
boell's 

Western,  6,  12 
Grebes,  law  relating  to,  38 
Greenhead.     See  Mallard 
Grosbeak,  Cardinal.     See  Cardinal 

Evening,  18 

Pine,  18 

Rose-breasted,     19;     illustration, 
young,  4;  economic  value  of,  46 
Grosbeaks,  law  relating  to,  38 
Grouse,  Canada.    See  Partridge,  Canada 
Spruce 

Canada  Ruffed,  15 

Pinnated.     See  Chicken,  Prairie 

Prairie  Sharp-tailed,  15;  decrease 
of,  32 

Ruffed,  15;  decrease  of,  32;  illus- 
tration, nest  and  eggs,  64;  law 
relating  to,  36 

Spruce.  See  Partridge,  Canada 
Spruce. 


94 


INDEX 


Grouse  (Continued) 

White-breasted.     See  Grouse,  Prai- 
rie Sharp-tailed 

Willow.     See  Ptarmigan,  Willow 
Grouse,  law  relating  to,  36 
Gruidae,  law  relating  to,  38 
Grus  canadensis,  23 
Gull,  Bonaparte's,  12 

Franklin's,  12;  illustration,  young, 
27 

Franklin's  Rosy.    See  Gull,  Frank- 
lin's 

Herring,  12 

Kittiwake,  34 

Laughing,  34 

Ring-billed,  12 
Gulls,  law  relating  to,  38 
Gyrfalcon,  Gray,  23 


Hair-bird.    See  Sparrow,  Chipping 
Half-Hardy  Birds,  9 
Hang-nests.     See  Oriole,  Baltimore 
Harrier,  Marsh.     See  Hawk,  Marsh 
Hawk,  Broad-winged,  15;  illustration, 
nest  and  young,  66 

Chicken.     See  Hawk,  Cooper's 

Cooper's,  15;  illustration,  young, 
10;  as  outlawed  bird,  45;  law 
relating  to,  36 

Duck,  16 

Fish.     See  Osprey 

Ferruginous  Rough-leg,  15 

Harlan's,  15,  23 

Hen.     See  Hawk,  Cooper's 

Krider's,  IS 

Marsh,  15 

Pigeon,  16 

Red-shouldered,  28 

Red-tailed,  15 

Richardson's  Pigeon,  35 

Rough-legged,  15 

Sharp-shinned,  15;  as  outlawed 
bird,  45;  law  relating  to,  36 

Sparrow,  16;  illustration,  young, 
67 

Swainson's,  6,  15 

Western  Red- tail,  15 
Hawks,  economic  value  of,  46 
Hawks,  reference  to  those  not  included 
in  outlawed  list,  46 


Helldiver.     See  Grebe,  Pied-billed 
Hen,  Prairie.     See  Chicken,  Prairie 
Herodias  egretta,  23 
Heron,  Black-crowned  Night,  14 

Great    Blue,    14;    as    questionable 
bird,  45 

Green,  14 

Little  Green.    See  Heron,  Green 

Yellow-crowned  Night,  34 
Herons,  law  relating  to,  38 
High-hole.     See  Flicker,  Northern 
Honker.     See  Goose,  Canada 
Hummingbird,  Ruby-throated,  17;  illus- 
tration, adult  drinking  sap,  69;  law 
relating  to,  38 
Hypothetical  list,  34,  number  of  species, 


Ibis,  Glossy,  34 

White-faced  Glossy,  22 
Icteria  virens  virens,  25 
Index  to  bibliography,  59 
Indigo-bird.    See  Bunting,  Indigo 
Introduced  species,  27;  number  of,  8 

Jaeger,  Long-tailed,  22 

Parasitic,  22 

Jaegers,  law  relating  to,  38 
Jay,    Blue,    8,    17;    decrease   of,    32;~"as 
questionable  bird,  46 

Canada,  7,  17       | 

Junco,  9,  11,  19;  illustration,  adult  and 
young,  80 

Montana,  19,  24 

Slate-colored,  19 
Junco  hyemalis  montana,  24 

Key  to  abbreviations,  11 

Killdeer,  15 

Kingbird,  17;  economic  value  of,  46 

Arkansas,  6,  17 

Western.    See  Kingbird,  Arkansas 
Kingfisher,  Belted,  16;  as  questionable 

bird,  46 
Kinglet,  Golden-crowned,  21 

Ruby-crowned,  21 
Kinglets,  law  relating  to,  38 
Kite,  Mississippi,  35 

Swallow-tailed,  15;  decrease  of,  32 


INDEX 


95 


Knot,  23;  law  relating  to,  38 

Lagopus  lagopus  lagopus,  23 
Lamellirostral  Swimmers,  12 
Lark,   Horned,   3,   17;  decrease  of,   32; 
illustration,  adult,  42 

Hoyt's  Horned,  17 

Prairie  Horned,  17 

Shore.     See  Lark,  Horned 
Law,  Federal  Migratory  Bird,  38 

Migratory  Bird  Treaty  Act,  38 

Minnesota  Bird,  36 
Leucosticte  tephrocotis  littbralis,  24 
Life  Zones,  5 

Limicolae,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 
Linnet,  Pine.     See  Siskin,  Pine 

Redpoll/    See  Redpoll 
List,  extirpated  species,  29 

game  and  wild-life  refuges,  44 

hypothetical,  34 

introduced  species,  27 

rare  or  accidental  birds,  22 

regular,  12 

unsettled  species,  28 

vanishing  birds,  30 
Log-cock.     See  Woodpecker,   Northern 

Pileated 

Longspur,  Black-bellied.    See  Longspur, 
Chestnut-collared 

Chestnut-collared,  7,  18 

Lapland,  18;  decrease  of,  33 

McCown's,  7,  18 

Smith's,  18 

Long- winged  Swimmers,  12 
Loon,  12;  decrease  of,  30 

Black.      See   Cormorant,    Double- 
crested 

Black-throated,  34 

Red-throated,  28 
Loons,  law  relating  to,  38 

M ' acrorhamphus  griseus  griseus,  35 

Magpie,  24 

Mallard,  13;  illustration,  nest  and  eggs, 
61 

Black.     See  Duck,  Black 
Dusky.     See  Duck,  Black 

Martin,  Purple,  19;  law  relating  to,  38 

Meadowlark,  18 

Eastern.     See  Meadowlark 


Western,  6,  18 

Meadowlarks,  law  relating  to,  38 
Merganser,  12 

American.     See  Merganser 

Hooded,  13 

Red-breasted,  13 
Migration,  9 

Migratory  Bird  Treaty  Act,  38 
Migratory  birds,  defined,  38;  permits  to 

kill  if  injurious,  39 
Mimus  polyglottos  polyglottos,  25 
Mockingbird,  25 
Moose-bird.     See  Jay,  Canada 
Mudhen.     See  Coot 
Murrelet,  Ancient,  22 
Myadestes  townsendi,  26 

Nests  and  eggs,  law  relating  to,  36 
Nighthawk,  17 

Sennett's,  17 

Nighthawks,  law  relating  to,  38 
Nucifraga  columbiana,  24 
Nutcracker,  Clark's,  24 
Nuthatch,  Red-breasted,  9,  21 

White-breasted,    21;   illustrations, 

87,  89 
Nuthatches,  law  relating  to,  38 

Oidemia  americana,  22 

perspicillata,  22 
Old-squaw,  13 

Oriole,  Baltimore,  18;  economic  value  of, 
46;  illustration,  young,  29 

Orchard,  18 

Orioles,  law  relating  to,  38 
Osprey,  16 

Outlawed  and  questionable  birds,  45 
Oven-bird,    20;    illustration,    nest    and 

eggs,  74 
Owl,  Acadian.     See  Owl,  Saw-whet. 

Arctic  Horned,  16 

Barn,  24 

Barred,  16 

Burrowing,  6,  16 

Great  Gray,  7,  16 

Great  Horned,  16;  as  outlawed 
bird,  45;  illustration,  adult,  33; 
law  relating  to,  36 

Hawk,  16 

Hoot.     See  Owl,  Great  Horned 


96 


INDEX 


Owl  (Continued) 

Long-eared,  16 

Marsh.     See  Owl,  Short-eared 

Monkey-faced.     See  Owl,  Barn 

Richardson's,  7,  16 

Saw- whet,  16 

Screech,  16;  illustration,  young,  68 

Short-eared,  16 

Snowy,  16 

Western  Horned,  16 

Wilson's.     See  Owl,  Long-eared 
Owls,  economic  value  of,  46;  reference  to 
those  not  included  in  outlawed  list,  46 


Partridge.    See  Grouse,  Ruffed  and  Bob- 
white 

Partridge,    Canada   Spruce,    7,    15;   de- 
crease of,  32 

Partridges,  law  relating  to,  36 
Passerina  ciris,  25 

Peabody-bird.       See    Sparrow,     White- 
throated. 
Peep.    See  Sandpipers,  Least  and  Semi- 

palmated. 
Pelican,  Brown,  34 

White,  12;  decrease  of,  31 
Penthestes  atricapillus  septentrionalis,  25 
Perching  Birds,  17 

Permanent  Residents,  defined,  7;  num- 
ber of,  8,  9 

Permits,  collecting,  36 
Pewee,  House.     See  Phoebe 

Western  Wood,  35 

Wood,  17 
Pheasant.     See  Grouse,  Ruffed 

Chinese.       See     Pheasant,     Ring- 
necked 

English,  27 

Ring-necked,  27 
Pheasants,  law  relating  to,  36 
Phalarope,  Northern,  14 

Red,  35 

Wilson's,  14;  decrease  of,  31 
Phalaropes,  law  relating  to,  38 
Phoebe,  17 
Phytogeography,  5 
Pica  pica  hudsonia,  24 
Pigeon,      Passenger,      29;      illustration, 
Museum  group,  65 

Prairie.     See  Plover,  Golden 


Pintail,  13 
Pipit,  21 

American.     See  Pipit 

Sprague's,  7,  21 
Piranga  rubra  rubra,  25 
Plains  Flora  and  Fauna,  6 
Plegadis  autumnalis,  34 

guarauna,  22 
Plover,  Black-bellied,  15;  decrease  of,  31 

Field.     See  Plover,  Upland 

Golden,  15;  decrease  of,  31 

Killdeer.     See  Killdeer. 

Piping,  23 

Semipalmated,  15 

Upland,  14;  decrease  of,  31 
Plover,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 
Pochard.     See  Redhead 
Polioptila  caerulea  caerulea,  26 
Potato-bug  Bird.     See  Grosbeak,  Rose- 
breasted 

Prairie  Region,  6 
Pseudo-Carolinian  Fauna,  6,  7 
Pseudo-Campestrian  Fauna,  6 
Ptarmigan,  Willow,  23 

Qua-bird.      See    Heron,    Black-crowned 

Night 
Quail.     See  Bob-white 

law  relating  to,  36 
Querquedula  cyanoptera,  22 


Rail,  Black,  34 

Carolina.     See  Sora 

King,  14 

Virginia,  14 

Yellow,  14 

Rails,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 
Rain-crow.     See  Cuckoos 
Rallidae,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 
Rare   or   accidental   birds,    list    of,    22, 

number  of,  8,  9 

Raven,  Northern,  7,  17;  decrease  of,  32 
Red-bird.     See  Cardinal. 
Redhead,  13;  decrease  of,  31 
Redpoll,  18 

Common.     See  Redpoll 

Greater,  18 

Hoary,  18 

Lesser.     See  Redpoll 


INDEX 


97 


Redpolls,   illustration,    Museum   group, 
81 

Redstart,  21 

Red-tail,  Western,  15,  23 

Reedbird.     See  Bobolink 

Refuges,  wild-life,  40;  list  of,  43;  map  of, 
44 

Regions,  Biological,  5 

Regular  list,  Minnesota  birds,  12;  num- 
ber species  in,  8 

Ricebird.     See  Bobolink 

Ricehen.     See  Coot 

Robin,  21;  economic  value  of,  47;  law 
relating  to,  38 

Golden.     See  Oriole,  Baltimore 
Ground.     See  Towhee 
Western,  35 

Rough-leg,  Ferruginous,  15 


Sanderling,  23 
Sandpiper,  Baird's,  14 

Bartramian.     See  Plover,  Upland 

Black-bellied.         See     Sandpiper, 
Red-backed 

Buff-breasted,  14 

Least,  14 

Pectoral,  14 

Red-backed,  14 

Semipalmated,  14 

Solitary,  14 

Spotted,  15 

Stilt,  14 

White-rumped,  14 
Sandpipers,  law  relating  to,  38 
Sapsuckers,      Yellow-bellied,      17;      as 
questionable    bird,    46;    illustration, 
adult,  70 
Saw-bill,  Big.     See  Merganser 

Little.     See  Merganser,  Hooded 
Scaup,  Greater.     See  Duck,  Scaup 

Lesser.     See  Duck,  Lesser  Scaup 
Scoter,  22 

Black.     See  Scoter 

Surf,  22 

White-winged,  13 

Shag.     See  Cormorant,  Double-crested 
Shelldrake,  Big.     See  Merganser 
Shore  Birds,  14;  law  relating  to,  38 
Shoveler  or  Shoveller,  13 


Shrike,  Migrant,  19;  illustration,  young, 
28 

Northern,  19 
Shrikes,  economic  value  of,  47;  food  of, 

47;  law  relating  to,  38 
Sickle-bill. .  See  Curlew,  Long-billed 
Siskin,  Pine,  7,  18 
Snipe,  Grass.     See  Sandpiper,  Pectoral 

Jack.     See  Snipe,  Wilson's 

Teeter.     See  Sandpiper,  Spotted 

Wilson's,  14;  law  relating  to,  36 
Snipe,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 
Snowbird.     See  Junco 
Snowflake.     See  Bunting,  Snow 
Solitaire,  Townsend's,  26 
Song  birds  as  domestic  pets,  law  relating 

to,  36 

Sora,  14;  law  relating  to,  38 
Sparrow,  Baird's  7,  18 

Chipping,    19;    illustration,    nest 
and  young,  76 

Clay-colored,  19 

English.    See  Sparrow,  House 

Field,  7,  19 

Fox,  19 

Gambel's,  19 

Grasshopper.    See  Sparrow,  West- 
ern Grasshopper 

Harris's,  19 

Henslow's,  19 

House,  27;  as  outlawed  bird,  45; 
law  relating  to,  36 

Intermediate.    See  Sparrow,  Gam- 
bel's 

Lark,  19 

LeConte's,  19 

Lincoln's,  19 

Nelson's,  19 

Savannah,  18 

Song,  19 

Swamp,  19 

Tree,  9,  19 

Vesper,  18 

Western  Grasshopper,  18 

Western  Vesper,  35 

White-crowned,  8,  19 

White-throated,    19;    illustration, 
young,  26 

Yellow-winged.          See     Sparrow, 
Western  Grasshopper 


98 


INDEX 


Speckle-belly.        See      Goose,      White- 
fronted 

Spoonbill.     See  Shoveler 
Sprigtail.     See  Pintail 
Stake-driver.     See  Bittern 
Stercorarius  longicaudus,  22 

parasiticus,  22 
Stilt,  Black-necked,  35 
Stint,  American.     See  Sandpiper,  Least 
Summer  Residents,  denned,  8;  number 

of,  8,  9 
Swallow,  Bank,  19 

Barn,  19 

Chimney.     See  Swift,  Chimney 

Cliff,  19;  decrease  of,  33 

Eave.     See  Swallow,  Cliff 

Northern  Violet-green,  35 

Rough- winged,  19 

Tree,  19;  illustration,  young,  37 

White-bellied.     See  Swallow,  Tree 
Swallows,  law  relating  to,  38 
Swan,  Trumpeter,  29 

Whistling,  13 

Swans,  laws  relating  to,  3<>,  38 
Swift,  Chimney,  17;  law  relating  to,  38 
Synthliboramphus  antiquus,  22 

Tanager,  Scarlet,  19;  illustration,  young, 
11 

Summer,  25 

Tanagers,  law  relating  to,  38 
Teacher-bird.     See  Oven-bird. 
Teal,  Blue- winged,  13 

Cinnamon,  22 

Green- winged,  13 

Tell-tale.     See  Yellow-legs,  Greater 
Tern,  Black,  12;  illustration,  nest,  eggs 
and  adult,  60 

Caspian,  12 

Common,  12 

Forster's,  12 

Least,  34  ' 

Short-tailed.     See  Tern,  Black 

Wilson's.     See  Tern,  Common 
Terns,  law  relating  to,  38 
Thistle-bird.     See  Goldfinch 
Thrasher,  Brown,  21 
Thrush,     Alice's.     See    Thrush,     Gray- 
cheeked 

Brown.     See  Thrasher,  Brown 


Golden-crowned.     See  Oven-bird 

Gray-cheeked,  21 

Hermit,  21 

Olive-backed,  21 

Swainson's.      See    Thrush,    Olive- 
backed 

Willow,  21 

Wood,  21 

Thrushes,  law  relating  to,  38 
Thunder-pump.     See  Bittern 
Tip-up.     See  Sandpiper,  Spotted 
Titlark.     See  Pipit 
Titmice,  law  relating  to,  38 
Titmouse,  Tufted,  25 
Total    complete    list    Minnesota    birds, 

number  of  species  in,  8 
Totipalmate  Swimmers,  12 
Towhee,  19 

Transients,  defined,  8;  number  of,  8,  9 
Transition  Zone,  5 
Tringa  canutus,  23 
Turkey,  Wild,  29 

Turnstone,  Ruddy,  23;  law  relating  to, 
38 

Unsettled  species,  28;  number  of,  8 
Upper  Austral  Zone,  6 

Veery.     See  Thrush,  Willow 
Vireo,  Bell's  34,  35 

Blue-headed,  20 

Philadelphia,  20 

Red^eyed,    20;    illustration,    adult 
and  nest,  84 

Solitary.    See  Vireo,  Blue-headed 

Warbling,  20 

White-eyed,  34,  35 

Yellow-throated,  20 
Vireos,  law  relating  to,  38 
Vulture,  Black,  35 

Turkey,  15 

Wagtails,  21 

Wagtail,    Water.      See    Water-Thrush, 

Grinnell's  and  Louisiana 
Warbler,  Bay-breasted,  20 
Black  and  White,  20 
Black  and  Yellow.     See  Warbler, 
Magnolia 


INDEX 


99 


Warbler  (Continued) 

Blackburnian,  20 

Black-poll,  8,  20 

Black-throated  Blue,  20 

Black-throated  Green,  20 

Blue-winged,  7,  20 

Blue  Yellow-backed.  See  War- 
bler, Parula 

Canada,  20 

Cape  May,  20 

Cerulean,  25 

Chestnut-sided,  20 

Connecticut,  20 

Golden  Swamp.  See  Warbler, 
Prothonotary 

Golden-winged,  20 

Hooded,  35 

Kentucky,  35 

Kirtland's,  25 

Magnolia,  20 

Mourning,  20 

Myrtle,  20 

Nashville,  20 

Necklaced.     See  Warbler,  Canada 

Northern  Parula,  20 

Orange-crowned,  20 

Palm,  20 

Parula.  See  Warbler,  Northern 
Parula 

Pileolated,  25 

Pine,  20;  illustration,  nest,  young 
and  adult,  85 

Prothonotary,  7,  20 

Red-poll.     See  Warbler,  Palm 

Summer.    See  Warbler,  Yellow 

Sycamore,  35 

Tennessee,  20 

Wilson's,  20 

Wilson's  Black-capped.  See  War- 
bler, Wilson's 

Worm-eating,  35 

Yellow,  20;  illustrations,  nest  and 
eggs,  75;  three-storied  nest,  78; 
Museum  group,  79 

Yellow-rumped.        See      Warbler, 

Myrtle 

Warblers,  law  relating  to,  38 
Water-Thrush,  Grinnell's,  20 

Large-billed.  See  Water- Thrush, 
Louisiana 


Louisiana,  7,  20 

Small-billed.      See   Water-Thrush, 

Grinnell's 
Wavey.    See  Goose,  Snow 

Blue.     See  Goose,  Blue 
Waxwing,  Bohemian,  19 

Cedar,  9,  19;  economic  value  of, 

47;  illustrations,  82,  83 
Northern.       See     Waxwing,     Bo- 
hemian 

Waxwings,  law  relating  to,  38 
Whip-poor-will,    17;    decrease    of,    32; 
illustrations,  adult,  72;  nest  and  eggs, 
73;  law  relating  to,  38 
Whiskey-Jack.    See  Jay,  Canada 
Whistle-wing.    See  Golden-eye 
Whistler.    See  Golden-eye 
Widgeon.     See  Baldpate 
Willet,  Western,  14;  decrease  of ,  3 1 ;  law 

relating  to,  38 

Wilsonia  pusilla  pileolata,  25 
Winter  bird  life,  9 
Winter  Visitants,  defined,  8;  number  of, 

8,  9 

Wood  Warblers,  20 

Woodcock,  14;  decrease  of,  31;  laws  re- 
lating to,  36,  38 

Woodpecker,  American  Three-toed.   See 
Woodpecker,  Three-toed 
Arctic  Three-toed,  7,  17 
Black-backed.      See   Woodpecker, 

Arctic  Three-toed 
Black-backed      Three-toed.        See 
Woodpecker,  Arctic  Three-toed 
Downy,  16;  illustration,  young,  71 ; 

illustrations,  adult,  87,  90 
Golden-winged.  See    Flicker, 

Northern 
Hairy,  16 
Ladder-backed.    See  Woodpecker, 

Three-toed 
Nelson's  Downy,  16 
Northern     Downy.       See     Wood- 
pecker, Nelson's  Downy 
Northern  Hairy,  16 
Northern  Pileated,  17;  decrease  of, 

32 

Red-bellied,  7,  17 
Red-headed,    17;    economic   value 
of,  46 


100 


INDEX 


Woodpecker  (Continued) 

Three-toed,  7,  17 

Yellow-bellied.       See     Sapsucker, 

Yellow-bellied 

Woodpeckers,  law  relating  to,  38 
Wren,  Bewick's,  34,  35 

Carolina,  35 

House,  21 

Long-billed    Marsh.      See    Wren, 
Prairie  Marsh 

Parkman's.     See  Wren,   Western 
House 

Prairie  Marsh,  21 

Short-billed  Marsh,  21 

Western  House,  21 


Winter,  21 
Wrens,  law  relating  to,  38 

Yellow-bird,    Summer.       See    Warbler, 
Yellow 

Yellow-hammer.    See  Flicker,  Northern 

Yellow-legs,  14 

Greater,  14;  decrease  of,  31 
Lesser.     See  Yellow-legs 

Yellow-legs,  laws  relating  to,  36,  38 

Yellow-throat,  Maryland,  20 

Zones,  Life,  5 
Zoogeography,  5 


ADDENDUM 

The  foregoing  paper  was  written  during  the  summer  and  early  fall  of  1918, 
and  as  the  result  of  unavoidable  delay  in  printing,  the  section  dealing  with  the  game 
laws  of  the  state  is  now  out  of  date,  owing  to  the  passage  of  a  new  game  law  by  the 
state  Legislature  in  April,  1919.  It  is  too  late  to  rewrite  the  chapter  but  the  follow- 
ing notes  will  suffice  to  indicate  the  principal  changes  of  interest  to  bird  students. 

The  new  bill  is  entitled  an  "Act  to  Amend,  Supplement,  Revise,  Consolidate 
and  Codify  the  Laws  of  This  State  Relating  to  the  Preservation,  Protection  and 
Propagation  of  Wild  Animals,  Including  Quadrupeds,  Birds  and  Fish  of  Both  This 
and  Other  States,  and  to  Repeal  Certain  Laws  Relating  Thereto."  It  is  specified 
that  it  shall  be  known  as  the  "Law  of  Minnesota  Relating  to  Wild  Animals."  This 
statute,  as  introduced,  was  the  work  of  a  commission  appointed  by  the  Governor, 
as  directed  by  the  Legislature  in  1917.  In  both  general  arrangement  and  wording 
the  present  law  differs  C9nsiderably  from  the  old  law,  but  the  intent  and  provisions 
in  its  various  parts  are,  in  the  main,  the  same. 

In  Part  IV,  devoted  to  Birds,  are  to  be  found  the  following  changes,  intended, 
in  some  instances,  to  bring  the  state  law  into  accord  with  the  Federal  law: — 

WOODCOCK.     Closed  period  extended  to  Oct.  1,  1920. 

UPLAND  PLOVER.     Closed  period  extended  to  Sept.  16,  1927. 

PRAIRIE  CHICKEN.     Closed  period  established  until  Sept.  16,  1922. 

SHARP-TAILED  GROUSE.     Same  as  Prairie  Chicken. 

RUFFED  GROUSE.  Closed  period  to  Oct.  15,  1920  and  thereafter  they  may 
be  killed  "only  in  even  numbered  years." 

RING-NECKED    or    ENGLISH    PHEASANT    (male).     Same    as    Ruffed 

WOOD  DUCK.     Closed  period  extended  to  Sept.  16,  1923. 

At  the  request  of  the  National  Association  of  Audubon  Societies  and  the 
Biological  Bureau  of  Washington  a  provision  against  the  sale  of  plumage,  in  support 
of  the  Federal  law,  was  incorporated  in  the  present  state  law.  It  reads  as  follows: — 

"Sec.  65.  CERTAIN  WILD  BIRDS  PROTECTED— Wild  birds,  other 
than  the  English  sparrow,  blackbird,  crow,  sharp-shinned  hawk,  Cooper  hawk, 
goshawk,  and  great  horned  owl,  shall  not  be  taken  or  possessed  at  any  time,  dead  or 
alive,  except  under  the  authority  of  a  certificate  issued  by  the  commissioner.  No 
part  of  the  plumage,  skin  or  body  of  any  bird  protected  by  this  section,  or  of  any 
birds  coming  from  without  the  state,  whether  belonging  to  the  same  or  a  different 
species  from  that  native  to  the  state  of  Minnesota,  provided  such  birds  belong  to 
the  same  family  as  those  protected  by  this  chapter,  shall  be  bought,  sold  or  had  in 
possession  for  sale.  This  section  shall  not  apply  to  game  birds  for  which  an  open 
season  is  provided  in  this  chapter,  nor  to  the  keeping  and  selling  of  parrots  or  song 
birds  as  domestic  pets,  provided  that  nothing  herein  shall  be  construed  to  permit 
the  buying  or  selling  of  wild  song  birds." 

Under  the  provision  of  the  new  law  (Sec.  120)  permits  to  collect  birds,  nests, 
and  eggs  for  scientific  purposes  are  to  be  issued  by  the  commissioner  only  to  "any 
municipal  corporation,  incorporated  society  of  natural  history,  college  or  university, 
maintaining  a  zoological  collection."  This  is  even  more  stringent  than  the  old  law 
and  is  unnecessary,  unwise,  and  not  in  accordance  with  the  present  liberal  policy 
of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  under  the  provisions  of  the  Migratory 
Bird  Treaty  Act.  There  is  no  valid  reason  why  properly  accredited  and  capable 
citizens  should  not  be  legally  permitted  to  carry  on  individual  investigations.  The 
U.  S.  Department  of  Agriculture  is  issuing  permits  to  such  persons,  but  they  are 
useless  in  states  having  such  provisions  as  the  above  and  much  unfortunate  irrita- 
tion and  disappointment  results,  with  the  loss  of  valuable  and  needed  effort  by 
really  capable  collectors  who  for  various  reasons  can  not  be  connected  with  scientific 
institutions.  An  ornithologist  must  be  a  collector  at  some  time  in  his  career.  If 
personal  collecting  is  not  to  be  allowed,  there  will  soon  be  very  few  if  any  trained 
ornithologists,  and  this  will  be  a  distinct  economic  and  educational  loss  to  the  com- 
monwealth. The  thousands  of  hunters  are  no  more  entitled  to  their  annual  licenses 
to  kill  for  sport  and  food  than  afe  the  few  worthy  students  of  birds  to  legal  per- 
mission to  carry  on  their  investigations  in  the  only  way  that  will  give  accurate  and 
valuable  results.  The  destruction  of  life  by  the  latter  class  is  as  nothing  compared 
with  the  thousands  of  birds  killed  annually  by  sportsmen  and  it  is  now  known  that 
game  birds  have  an  economic  importance,  aside  from  their  value  as  food,  quite 
comparable  with  that  of  the  non-game  birds. 


STUDIES   IN   ENGINEERING 

1.  GEORGE  ALFRED   MANEY,   Secondary   Stresses  and   Other   Problems  in 
Rigid  Frames:  A  New  Method  of  Solution.     1915.     $0.25. 

2.  CHARLES  FRANKLIN  SHOOP,  An  Investigation  of  the  Concrete  Road- Making 
Properties  of  Minnesota  Stone  and  Gravel.     1915.     $0.25. 

3.  FRANKLIN  R.   MCMILLAN,  Shrinkage  and  Time  Effects  in  Reinforced 
Concrete.     1915.     $0.25. 

STUDIES   IN   THE   BIOLOGICAL   SCIENCES 

1.  HERBERT  G.  LAMPSON,  A  Study  on  the  Spread  of  Tuberculosis  in  Families. 
1913.     $0.50. 

2.  JULIUS  V.   HOFMANN,   The  Importance  of  Seed  Characteristics  in  the 
Natural  Reproduction  of  Coniferous  Forests.     1918.     $0.25. 

3.  WILLIAM   MOORE  and  A.   D.  HIRSCHFELDER,  An  Investigation  of  the 
Louse  Problem.     In  press. 

STUDIES   IN   LANGUAGE   AND   LITERATURE 

1.  ESTHER  L.  SWENSON,  An  Inquiry  into  the  Composition  and  Structure  of 
Ludus  Coventriae:  HARDIN  CRAIG,  Note  on  the  Home  of  Ludus  Coventriae.     1914. 
$0.50. 

2.  ELMER  EDGAR  STOLL,  Othello:  An  Historical  and  Comparative  Study. 
1915.     $0.50. 

3.  COLBERT  SEARLES,  Les  Sentiments  de  V Academic  Franfaise  sur  le  Cid: 
Edition  of  the  Text,  with  an  Introduction.     1916.     $1.00. 

4.  PAUL  EDWARD  KRETZMANN,  The  Liturgical  Element  in  the  Earliest  Forms 
of  the  Medieval  Drama.     1916.     $1.00. 

5.  ARTHUR  JERROLD  TIEJE,  The  Theory  of  Characterization  in  Prose  Fiction 
prior  to  1740.     1916.     $0.75. 

6.  MARIE  C.  LYLE,  The  Original  Identity  of  the  York  and  Towneley  Cycles. 
In  press. 

7.  ELMER  EDGAR  STOLL,  Hamlet:  An  Historical  and  Comparative  Study.    In 
press. 

CURRENT   PROBLEMS 

1.  WILLIAM  ANDERSON,  The  Work  of  Public  Service  Commissions.     1913. 
$0.15. 

2.  BENJAMIN  F.  PITTENGER,  Rural  Teachers'  Training  Departments  in  Min- 
nesota High  Schools.     1914.     $0.15. 

3.  GERHARD  A.  GESELL,  Minnesota  Public  Utility  Rates.     1914.     $0.25. 

4.  L.  D.  H.  WELD,  Social  and  Economic  Survey  of  a  Community  in  the  Red 
River  Valley.     1915.     $0.25. 

5.  GUSTAV  P.  WARBER,  Social  and  Economic  Survey  of  a  Community  in 
Northeastern  Minnesota.     1915.     $0.25. 

6.  JOSEPH  B.  PIKE,  Bulletin  for  Teachers  of  Latin.     1915.     $0.25. 

7.  AUGUST  C.  KREY,  Bulletin  for  Teachers  of  History.    1915.    $0.25. 

8.  CARL  SCHLENKER,  Bulletin  for  Teachers  of  German.     1916.     $0.25. 

9.  WILLIAM  WATTS  FOLWELL,  Economic  Addresses.     1918.     $0.50. 

10.  MARGARET  KENT  BEARD,  The  Relation  between  Dependency  and  Retarda- 
tion: A  Study  of  1,351  Public  School  Children  Known  to  the  Minneapolis  Associated 
Charities.     1919.     $0.25. 

11.  THOMAS  S.  ROBERTS,  A  Review  of  the  Ornithology  of  Minnesota.     1919. 
$0.25. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 

BIOLOGY  LIBRARY 

TEL.  NO.  642-2532 
This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


flUG    51972 


JUL  2  8  1972 


LD2lA-6m-3,'72 
(Qll73SlO)476-A-32 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


